Agricultural Inspectors

Set standards for the production of meat or poultry products or for food ingredients, additives, or compounds used to prepare or package products.

Inspect food products and processing procedures to determine whether products are safe to eat.

Inspect agricultural commodities or related operations, as well as fish or logging operations, for compliance with laws and regulations governing health, quality, and safety.

Label and seal graded products and issue official grading certificates.

Monitor the operations and sanitary conditions of slaughtering or meat processing plants.

Take emergency actions, such as closing production facilities, if product safety is compromised.

Interpret and enforce government acts and regulations and explain required standards to agricultural workers.

Verify that transportation and handling procedures meet regulatory requirements.

Inspect the cleanliness and practices of establishment employees.

Examine, weigh, and measure commodities, such as poultry, eggs, meat, or seafood to certify qualities, grades, and weights.

Inspect or test horticultural products or livestock to detect harmful diseases, chemical residues, or infestations and to determine the quality of products or animals.

Monitor the grading performed by company employees to verify conformance to standards.

Set labeling standards and approve labels for meat or poultry products.

Write reports of findings and recommendations and advise farmers, growers, or processors of corrective action to be taken.

Direct or monitor the quarantine and treatment or destruction of plants or plant products.

Collect samples from animals, plants, or products and route them to laboratories for microbiological assessment, ingredient verification, or other testing.

Review and monitor foreign product inspection systems in countries of origin to ensure equivalence to the U.S. system.

Inquire about pesticides or chemicals to which animals may have been exposed.

Provide consultative services in areas such as equipment or product evaluation, plant construction or layout, or food safety systems.

Testify in legal proceedings.

Compare product recipes with government-approved formulas or recipes to determine acceptability.

Advise farmers or growers of development programs or new equipment or techniques to aid in quality production.