New Food Safety Requirements Apply From December 8

New food safety requirements apply to school canteens, childcare centres, supermarkets, coffee vendors selling food and boarding schools next month.

The national standard mandating staff training and risk management procedures was enforceable to most food businesses from December 8 2023, but some business types in NSW received a 12 month extension and now have just weeks left to prepare.

The rules only apply to businesses that sell or serve ready-to-eat unpackaged food that needs to be kept hot or cold to stay safe.

Packaged food, and products like cakes and confectionery are generally not included.

Most outlets need to arrange formal Food Safety Supervisor training for at least one person in the business and ensure all food handlers have general food safety skills and knowledge.

Higher-risk businesses must also be able to show they are managing key food safety risks.

Griffith Mayor, Doug Curran said the standard aimed to further prevent people becoming sick from eating unsafe food.

“Residents, visitors and workers in Griffith demand a high level of food safety at the places they eat at every day,” Mayor Curran said.

“We know the vast majority of our local food businesses take food safety seriously.

“These new measures further strengthen practices and processes to ensure our consumers can continue to enjoy their food knowing it’s safe to eat.”

Mayor Curran said Council would take an educative approach with local businesses as they transitioned to the new requirements.

Visit the NSW Food Authority website www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/safetytools

• Topics:

• Food
• Health & Wellbeing
• Education