17 Food Safety Specialist Interview Questions and Answers

Food safety specialists are responsible for ensuring that the food we eat is safe and free of contaminants. They work in a variety of settings, including restaurants, grocery stores, and food manufacturing and processing plants.

Before you can start your new job, you’ll need to pass an interview. Food safety specialist interview questions will focus on your technical knowledge as well as your ability to communicate with others and work as part of a team. Some questions may be specific to the type of food safety specialist job you’re applying for, such as questions about HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) for a job in a food processing plant.

Not sure how to answer these questions? We’ve put together a guide to the most common food safety specialist interview questions and answers to help you prepare for your interview.

Are you familiar with the most common foodborne illnesses and how to prevent them?

The interviewer may ask you a question like this to assess your knowledge of food safety and how it relates to the industry. Use your answer to highlight your expertise in food safety by describing what you know about common illnesses and how they can be prevented.

Example: “I have worked with many different types of businesses, so I’ve seen firsthand how some foodborne illnesses are more prevalent than others. For example, I’ve noticed that listeria is one of the most common illnesses because it’s hard to prevent when working with certain foods. However, there are several steps we can take to reduce the risk of contracting listeria, such as washing hands thoroughly before handling food and keeping cold temperatures low.”

What are some of the most important things to remember when handling raw meat?

This question can help the interviewer assess your knowledge of food safety and how you apply it to your work. Use examples from your experience that show your ability to follow protocols and procedures for handling raw meat safely.

Example: “The most important thing is to always wash my hands before touching anything else in the kitchen, including utensils or surfaces. I also make sure to use separate cutting boards for raw meats and other foods so they don’t cross-contaminate each other. Another important thing is to keep all cooked meats at a safe temperature until ready to serve.”

How would you respond if you noticed a coworker improperly storing food in the kitchen?

This question can help interviewers understand how you work with others and your ability to communicate effectively. In your answer, try to show that you value teamwork and respect the opinions of others.

Example: “If I noticed a coworker improperly storing food in the kitchen, I would first ask them if they knew about proper storage methods. If they didn’t, I would explain why it’s important to store food properly and offer to train them on proper food safety procedures. If they still refused, I would document the incident so my manager could address the issue.”

What is your process for handling and disposing of contaminated food?

Food safety specialists must follow strict protocols for handling and disposing of contaminated food. Employers ask this question to make sure you understand the proper procedures. In your answer, explain how you would handle this task in your current role. Share a specific example from your past experience if possible.

Example: “I always use disposable gloves when handling contaminated food. I then place it into a plastic bag before placing that bag into another bag. Finally, I dispose of the bags in an appropriate receptacle. For instance, at my last job, we had designated dumpsters for different types of waste. We also kept separate bins for recyclables.”

Provide an example of a time when you identified a potential issue with the cleanliness of a kitchen and successfully resolved it.

An interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your problem-solving skills and how you use them to resolve issues in the workplace. Use examples from previous experiences where you used critical thinking skills to identify a potential food safety issue, followed by steps you took to solve it.

Example: “In my last role as a food safety specialist, I noticed that one of our prep cooks was frequently touching his face while preparing food. This is a common practice among chefs who are trying to remove excess salt or pepper from their hands, but it can also lead to cross-contamination if they don’t wash their hands before touching food again. I spoke with him about the importance of washing his hands between tasks and provided him with some tips for keeping his hands clean during prep work.”

If a customer asked you about the safety of a particular dish on the menu, how would you respond?

This question can help the interviewer assess your customer service skills and ability to communicate complex information in a simple way. Use examples from past experiences where you had to explain food safety regulations or processes to customers, such as when you worked at a restaurant or managed a cafeteria.

Example: “I would first ask what dish they were referring to and then I would tell them about the specific ingredients that make up the dish. For example, if they asked me about a salad with chicken, I would tell them that chicken is safe to eat when it’s cooked thoroughly and stored at the right temperature. If they wanted to know more about why this was so, I would explain how bacteria grows on raw meat and poultry and how cooking kills these bacteria.”

What would you do if you noticed a line cook preparing food without wearing their hairnet or mask?

This question can help interviewers understand how you would handle a potentially unsafe situation in the workplace. Your answer should show that you are willing to speak up and take action when necessary, even if it means disagreeing with a coworker or supervisor.

Example: “If I noticed a line cook preparing food without their hairnet or mask, I would politely ask them to put it on. If they refused, I would explain why it’s important for everyone to wear these items while working with food. If they still refused, I would report the incident to my manager so they could address the issue.”

How well do you pay attention to detail when inspecting food, kitchens and restaurants?

Attention to detail is an important skill for food safety specialists because they must carefully inspect facilities, kitchens and restaurants to ensure that the company or establishment meets all state and federal regulations. Your answer should show the interviewer that you have strong attention to detail by describing a time when you noticed something during your inspection that helped improve food safety.

Example: “During my last inspection of a restaurant, I noticed that one of the cooks was wearing a bracelet while preparing food. This is against health code standards, so I asked the cook to remove it. She explained that she had recently gotten the bracelet as a gift from her daughter but agreed to take it off until after work. After inspecting the rest of the kitchen, I found no other violations.”

Do you have any experience working with food processing machinery?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have any experience working with machinery that processes food. If you do, share your experience and how it helped you in your previous role. If you don’t have any experience, you can explain what kind of machinery you’ve worked with in the past and how it relates to food processing machinery.

Example: “I haven’t had much experience working with machinery that processes food, but I did work as a mechanic for several years. This experience taught me how to troubleshoot problems with machines and apply those skills to my current position. For example, when I first started this job, I noticed some issues with the conveyor belt system. After inspecting the belts, I realized they were worn out and needed to be replaced.”

When inspecting a kitchen, where do you typically start?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you prioritize your work and what steps you take when inspecting a kitchen. Use examples from previous experiences to explain where you start and why, and highlight any skills or techniques that helped you complete this task efficiently.

Example: “I usually start by looking at the food storage areas first. In my last role, I found that many kitchens had improper temperature controls for their refrigerators and freezers, which is one of the most common violations in food safety standards. After checking these areas, I move on to check the cleanliness of the cooking surfaces and utensils. If there are any issues with these two things, it’s likely that the rest of the kitchen will have similar problems.”

We want to be able to quickly respond to food safety issues. How would you handle an urgent situation where food needed to be removed from the menu?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you handle pressure and make decisions quickly. Use examples from your past experience to show that you can work under pressure and prioritize tasks effectively.

Example: “In my last role, we had a situation where one of our suppliers was out of an ingredient for a popular menu item. We needed to find a replacement or remove it from the menu immediately. I contacted all other suppliers in our database to see if they could provide us with the same product. After contacting several suppliers, we found one who could meet our needs. The supplier delivered the new ingredients within two days so we could continue serving the dish on our menu.”

Describe your process for handling and storing food safely.

This question can help the interviewer understand how you apply your knowledge of food safety to your daily tasks. Use examples from your previous experience to describe how you handle and store food safely, including how you keep yourself safe while working with food.

Example: “I always use proper hand-washing techniques when handling food. I also make sure that all my equipment is clean before using it. For example, if I’m preparing a salad, I’ll wash my hands thoroughly before washing my produce. Then, I’ll wash my cutting board and knife after each vegetable I cut. This helps me avoid cross-contamination between different foods.”

What makes you stand out from other food safety specialists?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your skills and experience. They want to know what makes you unique from other candidates. When answering, think of a skill or quality that you have that others may not. Try to choose something that is relevant to the job.

Example: “I am passionate about food safety. I love educating people on how to keep their food safe. In my previous role as a food safety specialist, I started a blog where I shared tips for keeping food safe at home. This helped me reach thousands of new people each month. It also allowed me to connect with many different companies who wanted to implement some of these ideas in their own kitchens.”

Which food safety certifications do you hold?

Employers may ask this question to learn more about your qualifications for the role. If you have food safety certifications, share which ones you hold and what they mean. You can also mention any other relevant credentials that relate to the job.

Example: “I currently hold a Certified Food Safety Professional certification from the National Registry of Food Safety Professionals. I’ve also completed training in Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points and Good Agricultural Practices. These certifications show my commitment to upholding high standards of food safety. They’re important because they help me understand how to prevent contamination at every stage of production.”

What do you think is the most important thing to remember when preparing food for large events or parties?

Interviewers may ask this question to see if you have experience working with large groups of people and how you ensure food safety for them. In your answer, try to highlight the importance of following proper food safety procedures when preparing food for large events or parties.

Example: “I think it’s important to remember that no matter what type of event you’re catering, there are certain food safety rules everyone should follow. For example, I always make sure to wash my hands thoroughly before handling any food items. I also make sure all surfaces and utensils used to prepare food are clean and sanitary. These two things are especially important at large events where there might be more germs floating around.”

How often do you inspect food storage units?

The interviewer may ask you this question to gauge your knowledge of food safety regulations and how often you inspect the storage units. Use your answer to highlight your understanding of industry standards and how they apply to your work.

Example: “I inspect all food storage units at least once a month, but I also check them more frequently if there is an issue with temperature or humidity levels. In my last position, I noticed that some employees were storing their lunches in the same refrigerators as the restaurant’s prepared foods. This was against health codes because it could have caused cross-contamination between raw meats and ready-to-eat foods. I spoke with the employees about the importance of keeping their lunches separate from other foods.”

There is a line cook who refuses to put on their hairnet. How do you handle this?

Employers ask this question to make sure you can handle difficult situations. They want to know that you have the skills and confidence to speak with a line cook about food safety regulations. In your answer, explain how you would approach the situation in a calm manner. Explain that you would try to convince them of why hairnets are important.

Example: “I would politely tell the line cook why it is so important for them to wear their hairnet. I would also let them know that if they refuse to put on their hairnet, we will need to take away some of their responsibilities. This may include taking them off the grill or out of the kitchen entirely. If they still refuse, I would follow through with my threat.”