Search

Sort

Search results 321-330 of 2298

Starting or changing a food business

Starting or changing a food business If you're starting a new food business or changing the business name, location or activities of your current food business you must tell your food enforcement agency. What are the requirements? Under Standard 3.2.2 - Food Safety Practices and General Requirements, if you're starting a new food business or changing the business's name, location or activities you must tell your food enforcement agency. A list of food enforcement agencies is available on our website. Do I need to notify?

  • No matter how big or small your food business is, or if it's home-based, online, mobile, a 'once only' activity, or you are using a permanent or…

    Published December 2023

Food packaging

Food packaging If you're a food business, it's important to know what types of packaging are safe to use with your food products. What are the requirements? Under Standard 3.2.2 - Food Safety Practices and General Requirements, food businesses must:

  • only use packaging material that is fit for its intended purpose
  • only use material that is not likely to cause food contamination
  • ensure there is no likelihood that the food may become contaminated during the packaging process.
What are the risks? Packaging can potentially make food unsafe or unsuitable, for example if:
  • something contaminates food during the packaging process
  • harmful microorganisms get into food from dirty or…

    Published December 2023

Food recalls requirements

Food recalls requirements If you're a food manufacturer, wholesaler or importer it's important to know how to recall unsafe food as quickly as possible to avoid people becoming sick or injured from eating it. What are the requirements? Under Standard 3.2.2 - Food Safety Practices and General Requirements, if you're a food manufacturer, wholesale supplier or importer, you must be able to recall unsafe food. That means your business needs to:

  • have a written recall plan in place
  • use the plan if a recall is needed
  • show the plan to an authorised officer if asked.
All food businesses must make sure that any recalled food on their premises is clearly identified and held separate from other food until it is dealt with. Be prepared As a food manufacturer, wholesale supplier…

Published December 2023

Food traceability

Food traceability Being able to track food through all stages of production, processing and distribution will make it easier and quicker for you to recall it if something goes wrong. What are the requirements? Traceability requirements are listed under the following standards:

What does it mean for me?
  • You should know the details about the food on…

    Published February 2024

Health and hygiene - advice for food businesses

Health and hygiene - advice for food businesses If you're a food business, making sure no-one contaminates your food because of illness or unclean habits is important to keep food safe to eat. What are the requirements? Under Standard 3.2.2 - Food Safety Practices and General Requirements, food businesses need to do whatever they can to make sure no-one on their premises contaminates food. Under Standard 3.2.3 - Food Premises and Equipment, businesses need to provide staff with hand washing facilities, toilets and storage space for personal belongings. Reduce your risk

  • only food handlers should be in food preparation or packing areas…

    Published December 2023

Health and hygiene - advice for food handlers

Health and hygiene - advice for food handlers Making sure you don't contaminate food through illness or unclean habits is important to keep food safe to eat.

Under Standard 3.2.2 - Food Safety Practices and General Requirements, you need to ensure food is safe and suitable to eat. Be clean and careful It's easy to practise good hygiene and make it a good habit. Always ensure you're:
  • washing your hands with soap and drying them thoroughly
  • stopping hair, clothes, jewellery or phone touching food or surfaces - for example tie your hair back, remove loose jewellery, cover open sores
  • not touching ready-to-eat food with your bare hands - use tongs or gloves
    • …

    Published December 2023

Home-based food businesses

Home-based food businesses If you're a home-based food business, you need to meet the same food safety requirements as other food businesses - regardless of the size of your business or how often you sell food.  Am I a home-based food business? Home-based food businesses use their home (or someone else's) to handle food for sale. This includes preparing food for local markets or school canteens, catering for events, B&Bs, farm-stay or childcare businesses and online food sales from home. What are the requirements? Home-based businesses must comply with relevant parts of the Food Standards Code, including:

Keeping food at the right temperature

Keeping food at the right temperature As a food business you need to keep potentially hazardous food at certain temperatures to make sure it stays safe to eat. Potentially hazardous foods Potentially hazardous foods are foods that need to be kept at certain temperatures to minimise the risk of dangerous microorganisms or toxins. They include:

  • raw and cooked meat or poultry
  • foods containing eggs (cooked or raw)
  • dairy products like milk, cream and fresh custard
  • seafood
  • sprouted seeds (like beans and alfalfa)
  • cut fruit and vegetables
  • cooked rice, and fresh or cooked pasta
  • sandwiches, pizzas and sushi.
Keep it cold, keep it hot, or make it quick If you need to have the food at…

Published December 2023

Mobile food business

Mobile food business If you're a mobile food business, you need to meet the same food safety requirements as other food businesses, regardless of the size of your business or how often you sell food.  Am I a mobile food business? Mobile food businesses use food premises designed to be permanent but movable, including: 

  • food vans, trucks, trailers, bicycles, boats, planes and portable buildings (e.g. shipping containers) 
  • vehicles used for on-site food preparation (e.g. hamburgers, hot dogs and kebabs, coffee, juices, popcorn and fairyfloss), and the sale of any type of food including prepackaged food. 
Food vending machines may be considered mobile premises in some areas - check with your council. Vehicles only used to transport food…

Published December 2023

Processing food safely

Processing food safely If you're a food business that processes food, it's important to use correct techniques so the food stays safe to eat. What are the requirements? Under Standard 3.2.2 - Food Safety Practices and General Requirements, food businesses must transport food in a way that keeps it safe and suitable. This means the food is protected from contamination, processed using known safe techniques and kept at a safe temperature. Reduce your risk Start with safe food

  • Before you process food, make sure it is safe and suitable (e.g. ingredients from reliable suppliers, safely stored, inspected). 
Prevent food contamination 
  • Make sure food handlers know how to correctly use…

    Published December 2023