As a Food Safety Inspector, you will need to master following:

• advocate for consumer matters in production plants
• analyse samples of food and beverages
• apply GMP
• apply requirements concerning manufacturing of food and beverages
• assess HACCP implementation in plants
• assess food samples
• cultural practices regarding animal parts sorting
• cultural practices regarding animal slaughter
• ensure correct goods labelling
• european food safety policy
• food and beverage industry
• food legislation
• food safety principles
• food safety standards
• food toxicity
• foodborne diseases
• identify the factors causing changes in food during storage
• legislation about animal origin products
• manage communications with food industry governmental bodies
• manage the use of additives in food manufacturing
• perform food safety checks
• perform inspection analysis
• risks associated to physical, chemical, biological hazards in food and beverages

More generally, a food safety inspector is also versed in:

• apply HACCP
• consider economic criteria in decision making
• give instructions to staff
• health, safety and hygiene legislation
• identify hazards in the workplace
• keep up-to-date with regulations
• laboratory-based sciences
• lead inspections
• maintain relationships with government agencies
• maintain updated professional knowledge
• manage health and safety standards
• perform quality audits
• quality assurance methodologies
• set quality assurance objectives
• work in cold environments
• write routine reports

It also helps to know the following:

• analyse characteristics of food products at reception
• assess environmental parameters at the workplace for food products
• assess quality characteristics of food products
• check bottles for packaging
• check the quality of raw materials at reception
• develop food policy
• food homogenisation
• food policy
• handle communications in the food processing industry
• interpret data in food manufacturing
• investigate customer complaints of food products
• label samples
• manage challenging work conditions during food processing operations
• work in a food processing team
• apply foreign language for international trade
• be at ease in unsafe environments
• communicate commercial and technical issues in foreign languages
• follow hygienic procedures during food processing
• liaise with managers