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Consumer Safety Inspector U.S.D.A Food Safety Inspection Service
What do you do in a typical day? In a typical day, I am currently assigned to Delta Meat and Sausage Co. at Delta Junction, Alaska. I start the day the same way by performing what is called pre- operational sanitation. This is where the plant employee and I check the Plant and Equipment to make sure that the plant is clean. When this is done, the plant is ready to begin cutting meat or making sausages. When the plant is making products, it is my responsibility to check the amount of ingredients that go into the product. I also need to check the temperatures and mail collected samples to the lab for microbiological growth check. On days that the plant slaughters, I am to check the animal before it is slaughtered to make sure that there are no signs of diseases and that only healthy animals go for human consumption. After the animals are slaughtered, I check the heart, liver, spleen, kidneys, and the head for signs of diseases. If there are no diseases found, then the animal goes for human food. Throughout the day I need to make sure that the plant follows all the rules and regulations, so that the public does not have to worry about becoming ill from consuming contaminated or unwholesome meat. What led you to your present career? When I was a child, my Grandfather owned a slaughter plant so I grew up around the meat business. While working in a plant in high school, I met an inspector who informed me about U.S.D.A, and so I thought that I wanted to be an inspector. What school subjects were most important to you in your present career? The most important school subjects for this career are Math, Microbiology, and Public Speaking. When did you see relevance of those school subjects to your future? To ensure that the right amount of ingredients are added to the products, it is required that math is used every day adding percentages and working formulas. Microbiology is used while preparing samples that need to be sent to the lab. Public Speaking is very important; you will need to be able to speak to plant management, groups of employees and customers. What skills are needed on your job? There is not a lot of physical work needed. However, there is mostly communicating and listening to others like plant management, and working closely with superiors and peers.
 What are some pros and cons of your job that you think kids should know when considering your career? Some of the pros are: You make good money
and get holidays off by being a Government employee, You will
have a good retirement, 4 weeks of vacation a year plus 4 weeks
worth of sick leave and work with very little supervision. What would people do to prepare themselves for this career? The U.S.D.A. is looking for people that have a degree in Food Science. They need experience in food products.
If you like to travel this is a good job because you can travel across the U.S. and get promotions as you move. I have lived in Alabama, Kansas, Missouri, and Alaska.
pre- operational sanitation---To be cleaned before inspection microbiological---Biology that deals with microorganisms and their effects on other living organisms.(Microbiology) consumption---Act of eating, or putting in mouth. contaminated---Not clean, contains waste. unwholesome---Injurious to physical, mental, or moral health; unhealthy. |
