Food Safety Laws & Requirements For Employees
Enhance your skills. Keep customers safe.
Food safety training is crucial for two main reasons:
- It enables you to meet your legal requirements
- It helps you protect your customers lives
Why food safety should be your top priority
Some of the worst food poisoning outbreaks in recent times have occurred from simple mistakes such as someone not washing their hands properly.If you cause a food-borne illness outbreak or don't follow food safety legislation the consequences can be serious. Here are just a few reasons why you need to make food safety your top priority:
It's your responsibility
When you prepare or serve food to someone, their safety is in your hands. You have a responsibility to protect them from getting sick (or worse) from food-borne illness.
It's a legal requirement
All Food Handlers must be trained in food safety. Plus, for most food businesses in Australia there needs to be one or more nominated Food Safety Supervisors. It's the law.
You need to be up to date
When food safety laws change or there's a product recall, you need to know. If you're an AIFS member, you'll receive all the food safety information you need.
You're a role model
If you've been at your workplace for a while, new employees will observe your actions and behave in the same way. By showing good food safety you'll be a role model for the whole business.
You'll impress your employer
Not only will your boss be confident that you're protecting the business and it's customers, they'll be impressed with the food safety signage you'll receive after completing an AIFS course.
You'll boost your career prospects
Having a nationally recognised course on your resume is impressive. Food Safety Supervisors are in high demand and this course may allow you to move into more senior or leadership roles.Be aware of Food Safety Laws
Food Safety is governed by two sets of legislation - state and federal. Both are enforced at a local council level by Health Inspectors.
Federal Legislation
The federal legislation is governed by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ).Food Standard 3.2.2A sets the requirements for all food workers to have completed mandatory Food Safety Supervisor or Food Handler training.State Legislation
Each state has its own Food Safety Act that needs to be adhered to.This legislation often has additional requirements to those set out in Food Standard 3.2.2A. You must adhere to both state and federal legislation.Your food safety training choices
The type of training best suited to you will depend on the job you have, your career aspirations and any legal requirements you are trying to meet. The two main courses to choose from are:
