FSSAI Food Analyst Examination (and Junior Analyst Examination) · India · Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
Original practice questions written to the published syllabus · not past papersControlling quality in the plant and in the laboratory: quality systems and TQM, control charts and process capability, acceptance sampling and two- and three-class sampling plans, laboratory quality management and ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, method validation and proficiency testing.
In the exams: ICAR AICE 35.a Unit 4 (quality systems, control charts, acceptance sampling) and 35.b Units 1 and 3 (ISO 17025, NABL accreditation, 2- and 3-class sampling plans); food analyst examinations
How our questions for FSSAI Food Analyst Examination spread across the units of Food Quality Assurance, Statistical Process Control & Laboratory Accreditation. Difficulty: 10 easy, 27 medium, 2 hard.
| Method validation: accuracy, precision, LOD, LOQ and recovery | 8 | |
| Laboratory quality management and ISO/IEC 17025 | 7 | |
| Measurement uncertainty | 7 | |
| Laboratory accreditation bodies and their role | 7 | |
| Proficiency testing and reference materials | 5 | |
| Two- and three-class microbiological sampling plans | 3 | |
| Statistical process control: control charts for variables and attributes | 1 | |
| Raw-material, in-process and finished-product quality control | 1 |
Choose an answer, then open the working. Each explanation says why the right answer is right and why the others are not.
A laboratory plots one fat result per day on an individuals chart: mean 4.0%, mean moving range 0.15%. What are the control limits? (E₂ = 2.66)
B. 3.60% to 4.40%
Limits = X̄ ± 2.66 MR̄ = 4.0 ± 2.66 × 0.15 = 4.0 ± 0.40, i.e. 3.60% to 4.40%. 3.55 to 4.45 uses 3 × MR̄; 3.85 to 4.15 uses ±MR̄; 3.70 to 4.30 uses ±2MR̄.
Further reading: Montgomery, Introduction to Statistical Quality Control; ISO 2859-1
For the same plan (n = 5, c = 2, m = 10², M = 10³ cfu/g), one unit gives 2000 cfu/g and the others are below 100. What is the decision?
B. Reject: one unit exceeds M
Any unit above M makes the lot unacceptable regardless of c. Averaging or retesting to replace a result is not permitted by the plan.
Further reading: ICMSF, Microorganisms in Foods 7; Codex CXG 21-1997
What new requirement did ISO/IEC 17025:2017 add for statements of conformity?
B. A documented decision rule that accounts for uncertainty
When reporting conformity with a specification, the laboratory must define and agree the decision rule, including how measurement uncertainty is taken into account. The other options are not requirements.
Further reading: ISO/IEC 17025:2017; Eurachem guides; ISO 13528
Why is chain-of-custody documentation essential for official food samples?
C. It proves who held the sample and when
Legal samples must be shown to be the sample taken, unaltered; custody records track every transfer. Price, validation and duplicates are separate matters.
Further reading: ISO/IEC 17025:2017; Eurachem guides; ISO 13528
A 100 mL volumetric flask has a stated tolerance of ±0.08 mL with no further information. What is the standard uncertainty from the tolerance?
C. 0.046 mL
With a rectangular distribution, u = a/√3 = 0.08/1.732 = 0.046 mL. 0.080 uses the half-width directly; 0.040 divides by 2; 0.033 divides by √6 (triangular).
Further reading: ISO/IEC 17025:2017; Eurachem guides; ISO 13528
A contaminant has a legal limit of 10 µg/kg. A laboratory reports 11.5 ± 2.0 µg/kg (k = 2). Under the rule "non-compliant if result − U exceeds the limit", what is the decision?
A. Not shown to be non-compliant
11.5 − 2.0 = 9.5, which is not above 10, so non-compliance is not established beyond reasonable doubt under this rule; but neither is compliance proved, since 11.5 + 2.0 exceeds the limit. Retesting until a convenient result appears is not valid.
Further reading: ISO/IEC 17025:2017; Eurachem guides; ISO 13528
What distinguishes a certified reference material from an ordinary reference material?
D. A certificate with value, uncertainty and traceability
A CRM is characterised by a metrologically valid procedure and carries a certificate stating the property value, its uncertainty and traceability. Price and matrix are not defining, and in-house materials are not certified.
Further reading: ISO/IEC 17025:2017; Eurachem guides; ISO 13528
To which standard are producers of reference materials accredited?
A. ISO 17034
ISO 17034 covers reference-material producers; ISO/IEC 17043 covers proficiency-testing providers; ISO/IEC 17020 inspection bodies; ISO 19011 is audit guidance.
Further reading: ISO/IEC 17025:2017; Eurachem guides; ISO 13528
Which Codex guideline recommends accreditation, proficiency testing, validated methods and internal QC for laboratories involved in import and export control of foods?
A. CXG 27-1997
CXG 27-1997 covers assessment of the competence of testing laboratories involved in import and export control. CXG 50-2004 is on sampling, CXG 21-1997 on microbiological criteria and CXC 1-1969 on food hygiene.
Further reading: ISO/IEC 17025:2017; Eurachem guides; ISO 13528
How does accreditation differ from certification?
B. Accreditation: competence; certification: conformity
Accreditation (by a body under ISO/IEC 17011) recognises competence of conformity-assessment bodies such as labs; certification (by a certification body) attests that a system, product or person conforms to requirements. Either may be voluntary or required depending on the context.
Further reading: ISO/IEC 17025:2017; Eurachem guides; ISO 13528
Ten here, 39 in the app. The Laisha app has every practice question we have written to FSSAI Food Analyst Examination in this subject, marked as you go, with timed papers, a jump-to-unanswered list and a certificate when you pass at 70 per cent.
Free for ten days, then one subscription of US$10 a month. We would rather say so here than have you find it later.
An AI operating system for agriculture: free guides, manuals and tools written for every country.