Food Safety Program requirements are different depending on which State of Territory you are operating in. In all States and Territories, it is now a requirement for food businesses serving food to vulnerable populations to have a Food Safety Program, as per Standard 3.3.1 in the Food Safety Standards (Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code). This includes aged care, hospitals and childcare centres. For other industry sector requirements, please contact your local government or State Food Authority....

A Food Safety Program is a documented set of steps that aim to prevent problems with food safety before they occur, rather than relying on a reactive approach once problems have already occurred. A Food Safety Program covers all aspects of food service in your business, and has procedures for each food process step to keep food safe. It also includes systems that keep food safe across all aspects of food handling, such as pest control, staff health & hygiene, cleaning, waste management, recall procedures or staff training. Records and logsheets are part of your Food Safety Program. They are an......

Yes, there are real benefits. For many businesses, a Food Safety Program is a legislative requirement. However, if you do not require a Food Safety Program by law in your State or Territory, you still need to comply with the Food Safety Standards. Under the Food Safety Standards, to show compliance you would still require evidence of Approved Suppliers, Staff Training, checking goods on deliveryand Storage Unit Temperature Logs as a minimum. A complete Food Safety Program assists in not only meeting the minimum legislative requirements, but can give a business owner peace of mind that food saf......

If you developed and wrote your own Food Safety Program, you can edit it as changes occur to ensure your Food Safety Program reflects your current practices in your Food Business. If you change your Food Safety Program due to new food process, make sure you re-submit your Food Safety Program to your local Council, so they have a current copy on file. If you used a Template to create your program, you may be able to edit some sections. If you find that your food processes do not match the content of the Template, and you cannot change that particular section, you need to consider either writing......

A food safety program looks at each food process step in your business (from receipt of goods, to serving the food), and determines what kinds of food safety hazards could go wrong. For each step, procedures are written to control the food safety hazards, monitor food safety, and document your actions. A food safety program also has documented procedures for taking 'corrective action', that is, if something goes wrong, what action will your staff take to keep the consumer safe (and protect your business). Food Safety Programs also include the systems you put in place for the whole business to ......

A food safety program must: Systematically identify the food safety hazards that are reasonably likely to occur in food handling operations of the food business, and Identify where, in a food handling operation of the food business, each hazard identified can be controlled and the means of control, and Provide for the systematic monitoring of the means of control, and Provide for appropriate corrective action to be taken when a hazard identified is not under control, and Provide for the regular review of the program to ensure it is appropriate for the food business, and Provide for the keepin......

Food Safety Programs may be developed by the food business, by using a template as a guide, or by paying a consultant to write it for you. Please contact Infocus Management Group for more information on how our experienced consultants can help you attain peace of mind by developing a Food Safety Program on your behalf....

Contact your local Council for information on accreditation processes for your Food Safety Program, as they do vary between Councils. In some cases, the Council will only accept Food Safety Programs which have had an audit already conducted by an authorised Third-Party Auditor. You will need to pay the Auditor to check your Food Safety Program. In other cases, the Council will check the Food Safety Program themselves, and will charge you again even if you have already paid an Auditor to look at the program. Thus, check the correct procedures with your local Council before assuming you need a T......

After you have achieved accreditation of your Food Safety Program, you will be required to schedule a Third-Party Audit within 6 months of accreditation. This audit will be conducted to ensure your Food Safety Program has been implemented in your business, and that your records and logsheets are being completed as per the Food Safety Program procedures. After this, a Third-Party Audit will be required once every 12 months, or at the frequency determined by the local government who accredited your Food Safety Program. Ensure that you keep a copy of the Food Safety Program in the kitchen (or whe......

To find an authorised Third-Party Auditor, see the Auditor listings on your State or Territory Food Authority website. Although Infocus Management Group does not provide Third-Party Audits, we may be able to refer you to an auditor working in your State or Territory. Please feel free to contact us if you would like further information....