Welcome to the California Department of Food and Agriculture

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Students, Internships & Externships

 

For Students of All Ages:

Welcome to the CDFA Food Safety web site! You're probably here because you are doing research for a paper or are looking for an internship. We will try to help you with both. We have links to information about bacteria and other foodborne pathogens, food safety at home, food production, and links to many of the State's agencies that manage food safety.

The Golden State is home to the largest food and agricultural economy in the nation. No other state even comes close. California has around 360 agricultural commodities, and each presents its own food safety challenges.

If you don't see the information you need on production food safety on this site, contact us.

Internships and Externships in Food Safety

CDFA welcomes the opportunity to foster student development and to provide practical experience with animal health and food safety issues. Student exposure to issues can be obtained in several program areas:

  • Animal production food safety
  • Foodborne disease outbreaks and issues
  • Poultry and egg quality assurance program verification
  • Livestock and poultry environmental waste issues
  • Oversight of red meat and poultry inspection and processing
  • Chemical residue monitoring
  • Rendered product and pet food processing and inspection
  • HACCP program implementation
  • Milk and dairy foods control, from cow to carton
  • Dairy farm and processing plant inspection programs
  • Chemical residue monitoring of milk and dairy foods
  • Dairy quality assurance program and related issues

The internship and externship programs provide real benefit to students as well as our Department. This is a valuable opportunity for students to gain practical experience and exposure to current research and regulatory issues impacting both veterinary medicine and production agriculture in California.

Program Eligibility and Duration:
Internships last 6-8 weeks. To be an intern, you must be currently enrolled in a DVM, MPVM, Animal Science, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Engineering, or related field.

Externships last 2-4 weeks and are open only to current DVM students.

Contact us for more information:
California Department of Food and Agriculture
Animal Health and Food Safety Services, Animal Health Branch
1220 N Street, Room A-107
Sacramento, California 95814
Telephone: (916) 654-1447
Fax: (916) 653-2215
or send an email to: ahbfeedback@cdfa.ca.gov