Food Safety & Quality Intern

Contract term: Summer internship:
June 2026 to October 2026

Welcome to Lactalis Canada! We’re proud to be Canada’s #1 branded dairy company and to be consistently recognized as one of the country’s top employers by Forbes. Our purpose is to enrich and nurture the lives of Canadians by offering the best of dairy from Canada’s favourite dairy brands like Cracker Barrel, Black Diamond, Balderson, Astro and Lactantia. In fact, our products can be found in over 90% of Canadian refrigerators in any given time.

As part of Lactalis Group, the world’s leading dairy company, we remain focused on innovation and quality and are seeking like-minded individuals to join us as we continue our growth journey.

At Lactalis, we are committed to cultivating talent and providing enriching opportunities that ignite passion and foster growth in our future leaders. Our student program is designed to nurture your potential by providing you with enriching work experience in a dynamic and innovative environment.

Lactalis Canada’s student program encourages curiosity, creativity, professional development, and personal growth. Not only will you develop your expertise through hands‑on experiences, but you will also join a thriving network of Lactalis Students across Canada. All students will have the chance to participate in social events, group trainings and workshops, manufacturing plant tours, and an end‑of semester project!

We are invested in your long‑term success and aim to equip you with skills and experiences that will fuel your future!

The Food Safety & Quality Intern supports the Quality Assurance (QA) and Food Safety teams in maintaining compliance with regulatory standards, ensuring product quality, and improving operational processes. This role provides hands‑on experience in food manufacturing environments, exposure to industry standards, and opportunities to contribute to real quality‑improvement initiatives.

• Conduct routine quality checks on raw materials, in‑process products, and finished goods to ensure compliance with company specifications.
• Assist with environmental monitoring
  , including swabbing, sample collection, and data entry for microbiological testing.
• Support food safety programs such as HACCP, GMPs, allergen control, sanitation, and traceability.
• Participate in internal audits by preparing documentation, reviewing records, and identifying non‑conformances.
• Help investigate quality deviations
  , customer complaints, or production issues by gathering data and assisting with root‑cause analysis.
• Maintain accurate records of inspections, test results, and corrective actions in accordance with regulatory and company requirements.
• Collaborate with production teams to reinforce food safety practices and promote continuous improvement.
• Assist with training materials
  , SOP updates, and quality‑related communication across departments.

• Currently pursuing a degree or diploma in Food Science, Microbiology, Biotechnology, Nutrition, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
• Knowledge of HACCP, GMPs, and basic food safety principles.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow procedures accurately.
• Comfortable working in production or laboratory environments.
• Solid communication, teamwork, and problem‑solving skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and basic data analysis is an asset.

• Hands‑on experience with real food safety and quality systems.
• Exposure to regulatory frameworks such as CFIA, SQF.
• Opportunities to contribute to process improvements and cross‑functional projects.
• Mentorship from experienced QA and Food Safety professionals.

• A welcoming and passionate team
• Hands‑on, meaningful projects
• An environment where your ideas truly matter
• A great addition to your resume (and maybe more…)
• 8% vacation pay
• Health & dental benefits starting day 1 (including coverage for vision, mental health practitioners, physiotherapy, chiropractic care, massage therapy, naturopathy, and more!)
• Social events with other students
• Opportunities to learn about different functions within our…