Does/ did anyone else work in food manufacturing?

[Nikia]

I work in quality assurance and am looking for a new job. That are several reasons that I am unhappy in my position. I have been told by a few people though that food manufacturing is one the most conservative industries and not a good place for creative, yet analytical independent thinkers (especially as a woman) to work. I s this a fair assessment from your experience? Did your place of business try to push regulations as far as possible?
I have an interview at another food plant this week.

[mdmc]

1. I worked in a slaughter house

and a hotdog factory. Its no worse than alot of markets, conservative wise.
Hell, at least FDA looks at meat markets... If anyone that I used to work with ever suggested that we need less Govt., I would ask them, "would you eat the stuff we make here if we made it without FDA supervision (it was gross, but clean, due to inspections. If the inspector wasn't there, all hell broke loose)?"

[Nikia]

4. We usually don't have FDA supervision

I think only meat requires an onsite FDA inspector. The plant where I am interviewing is not a product requiring FDA constant inspection either. There is regular inspection though and they or the state can drop by at any time. Food regulations are important to food safety. That's one reason that Liberatarians are wrong.

[MadAsHell]

2. I work in process and controls engineering for the food industry ...

I don't think I could make that board a statement about the people I have worked with. I think it is a bit like the population in general. A great many people are bissfully unaware of the issues in general.

As to the management styles, there is a great deal of inertia. I think that most of the inertia comes from the regulations (a good thing, generally) they have to live with. I know of several organizations that have women very high up in the QA structure.

[Bluzmann57]

3. worked in food processing for many years

and I don't know if its conservative, but it is mind numbing and generally, low paying. As the previous poster stated, it's a good thing that there are gov't regulations. These places have to be clean, cleanliness is indeed next to godliness in that industry.

[Nikia]

5. I was going to ask about that too

I didn't know how to put it though without sounding condescending based on the attitude which I have seen in many of the people in laborer positions. My friend who had worked in a more skilled industry before moving to our area and worked at our food plant for a couple of years before getting hired for a skilled position in his previous industry made that comment about why that is bad for me too, trying to lead and educate people without hope.
Quality management does pay decently and although it isn't the most exciting thing in the world, it isn't like stacking boxes. I have a BA in biology and three years experience in quality assurance in the food industry. Without having to take a big pay cut, these are probably positions that I have the best chance at getting right now where I am at.

[mdmc]

6. Take the job

Fashion retail is progressive, but just as numb.