Senior Primary Inspector, Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
Jonathan O.
Senior Primary Inspector, Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
Education
Degree
Bachelor of Science Honours, Major in Food Science
Co-op Placement
Employer
Position
Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
Senior Primary Inspector
What is your title, role, and host organization?
I completed my first two work terms with the CFIA in the Toronto Region as a Senior Primary Inspector. My role as a Senior Primary Inspector, included conducting Recall Effectiveness Checks (REC) and inspections to guarantee that products entering the country are regulatory compliant, such as the prohibition of meat products and plants that could introduce foreign pests and diseases into the country.
RECs ensure that products which have been identified as posing possible health risks to consumers are removed from further sale or use to protect the health and well-being of Canadian consumers.
How is your placement related to your field of study? Did any course(s) prepare you for this placement?
Not only did my roles directly contribute to CFIA’s mandate of safeguarding the health and well-being of Canadians by mitigating food safety risks, but it has also allowed me to apply my academic knowledge directly and further expand my repertoire of skills as a professional. Regulations enforced by the CIFA were taught to me in my previous Food Science classes. The knowledge that I acquired from these classes was crucial to my understanding of the work during my time at the CFIA.
How is your placement impacting your future career goals and overall awareness of the job market in Food Science?
Working under a federal regulatory agency has provided me with valuable insight into plans for my career. I intend to continue working in the public service where I can use my Food Science knowledge and the experience gained from these COOP placements to ensure that only the safest products reach Canadians.
How have you grown professionally through your placement?
Throughout my placement I have grown exponentially. My time at CFIA has allowed me to gain skills that will be valuable for my future career. By engaging with stakeholders and industry agents during inspections and REC, I strengthened my communication skills while also developing my project management skills. More importantly, I gained a better understanding of the workplace and navigating interpersonal relationships which are transferable to future career endeavours and personally.
Do you have any advice for junior students in Food Science?
My advice to other Food Science students would be to make the most out of every opportunity and put yourself out there. The connections I have made during my entire co-op experience are some that will certainly benefit me and potentially lead me to my future career.
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