Food Safety Officer

Scope of work

The Food Safety Officer (FSO) ensures that all food prepared, packed, stored, and distributed meets the required hygiene, safety, and quality standards. The FSO is responsible for ensuring compliance with food safety regulations, HACCP - Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points(food safety management system) requirements, and quality management systems across all stages of food production, handling, and distribution.

The Food Safety Officer oversees regulatory compliance, conducts inspections, monitors critical control points, and leads corrective actions to maintain a safe and efficient meal delivery system. The role includes monitoring, auditing, training, documentation, and continuous improvement to minimize food safety risks and ensure consistent food quality.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure strict compliance with national and organizational food safety standards and SOPs.
• Conduct routine inspections of production areas, storage, transportation, and handling processes.
• Maintain and update food safety SOPs, checklists, and compliance documents.
• Monitor hygiene practices of all kitchen, packing, and distribution staff.
• Verify calibration of equipment, hygiene compliance, sanitation schedules, and pest control activities.
• Identify potential food safety hazards (biological, chemical, physical).
• Maintain accurate records: Critical Control Points-CCP monitoring logs, sanitation checklists.
• Perform root-cause analysis for food safety deviations or customer complaints.
• Verify proper handling, cooking, cooling, packing, and transportation of meals.
• Conduct daily inspections of facilities, equipment, utensils, and storage areas.
• Coordinate with production, quality, maintenance, HR, vendors, and regulatory agencies.
• Strong knowledge of food safety regulations and quality systems
• Analytical ability for audits and root-cause analysis
• Works closely with QA/QC team, production, housekeeping, and procurement
• Check cleanliness and sanitation of kitchen surfaces, storage areas, tools, and equipment.
• Inspect raw materials and food supplies before use.
• Ensure proper temperature control during cooking, holding, packing, and delivery.
• Identify cross-contamination risks and enforce corrective actions.
• Maintain food safety checklists, temperature logs, cleaning logs, and inspection reports.
• Document non-compliance findings and ensure timely corrective action.
• Prepare weekly/monthly food safety reports for management.
• Conduct regular hygiene and food safety training for staff.
• Demonstrate correct handwashing and safe utensil-handling procedures.
• Address complaints regarding food quality, contamination, or spoilage.
• Investigate incidents and recommend preventative measures.
• Ensure proper waste disposal and cleanliness around the kitchen facility.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Nutrition, Microbiology, or related field.
• Strong knowledge of food safety standards and kitchen procedures.
• Good communication, reporting, and observation skills.
• High integrity and attention to detail.
• Proactive and safety-minded.
• Able to enforce rules professionally and respectfully.