According to people in this career, the main tasks are...
| Task | Importance |
|---|---|
| Set standards for the production of meat or poultry products or for food ingredients, additives, or compounds used to prepare or package products. | 92% |
| Inspect food products and processing procedures to determine whether products are safe to eat. | 91% |
| Inspect agricultural commodities or related operations, as well as fish or logging operations, for compliance with laws and regulations governing health, quality, and safety. | 91% |
| Label and seal graded products and issue official grading certificates. | 91% |
| Monitor the operations and sanitary conditions of slaughtering or meat processing plants. | 90% |
| Take emergency actions, such as closing production facilities, if product safety is compromised. | 89% |
| Interpret and enforce government acts and regulations and explain required standards to agricultural workers. | 88% |
| Verify that transportation and handling procedures meet regulatory requirements. | 87% |
| Inspect the cleanliness and practices of establishment employees. | 86% |
| Examine, weigh, and measure commodities, such as poultry, eggs, meat, or seafood to certify qualities, grades, and weights. | 86% |
| Inspect or test horticultural products or livestock to detect harmful diseases, chemical residues, or infestations and to determine the quality of products or animals. | 86% |
| Monitor the grading performed by company employees to verify conformance to standards. | 82% |
| Set labeling standards and approve labels for meat or poultry products. | 81% |
| Write reports of findings and recommendations and advise farmers, growers, or processors of corrective action to be taken. | 81% |
| Direct or monitor the quarantine and treatment or destruction of plants or plant products. | 81% |
| Collect samples from animals, plants, or products and route them to laboratories for microbiological assessment, ingredient verification, or other testing. | 80% |
| Review and monitor foreign product inspection systems in countries of origin to ensure equivalence to the U.S. system. | 79% |
| Inquire about pesticides or chemicals to which animals may have been exposed. | 78% |
| Provide consultative services in areas such as equipment or product evaluation, plant construction or layout, or food safety systems. | 78% |
| Testify in legal proceedings. | 77% |
| Compare product recipes with government-approved formulas or recipes to determine acceptability. | 74% |
| Advise farmers or growers of development programs or new equipment or techniques to aid in quality production. | 72% |
