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Ensuring people come back is good business

The need for consistent food hygiene standards and quality assurance for retail food premises has long been recognised. Mildura Rural City Council and Wentworth Shire in NSW, have joined forces to produce a Food Safety Kit and introduce a Food Hygiene Audit System for local food proprietors.

Consumers have no way of knowing whether the food product they receive has been handled hygienically and safely from raw material to final product. They are forced to place their trust in a number of largely unknown people and procedures before consuming the end product. They have no knowledge of the personal hygiene or health of people handling food before they purchase it, or of the cleanliness of the utensils and equipment used in handling or during the manufacture of the food.

Developed in line with National Food Authority Guidelines, the Safety Kit gives comprehensive information on food contamination, hygiene and cleaning techniques. It has been distributed to every food outlet in the two Council areas and has been well accepted.

Additionally, a Food Hygiene Certificate Course accredited through Regency TAFE in Adelaide is available to staff in food catering outlets. Businesses are strongly recommended to encourage staff to undertake this Course.

Under the Audit System, food premises will be rated by Council's Environmental Health Officer on a four star system similar to the accommodation industry. An annual award scheme, nominating the best premises is proposed as a further incentive to achieve the highest level of quality assurance.

Supplementing the kit, the two Councils have set up a Food Industry Committee. Comprising representatives of the local industry, they will mediate on matters relating to the auditing process and publicise the four star premises.

The aim of the new strategy is to encourage self assessment on the part of the industry rather than rely on policing by Council. As key players in the industry, it is proprietors themselves who have most to gain by compliance with the Code and the auditing procedures.

The new scheme was launched by the two Councils at a seminar held at Sunraysia TAFE in July this year. It is believed to be the first cross border initiative in Environmental Health Service provision.

For further information on the Kit and Audit System, contact Malcolm Hare, Manager Health, Traffic and Local Laws, telephone (050) 21 9216.

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