How to best comply with food safety law

Each nation has its own requirements for food safety, and with it, unique testing and training procedures. The government organization Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) creates the food safety standards that are used in both Australia and New Zealand and has the position of authority in the sector.

Food safety laws are founded on science, and the standards are designed with particular temperature and climatic controls in mind for each and every food establishment. The goal of these guidelines is to avoid cross-contamination, which poses a risk. Cross-contamination occurs “when bacteria and viruses are transferred from a contaminated food or surface, such as a chopping board and utensils, to other food,” according to the Food Safety Information Council.

The various companies in the sector are assigned food hygiene ratings in order to uphold these stringent requirements. “Any business or activity that involves the handling of any type of food for sale, or the sale of food in Australia,” according to FSANZ, is considered a food business. The company is assigned a rating, which leads to a categorization. Keeping oneself clean is a crucial part of food safety. In order to ensure that food is safe for human consumption, possible dangers that might contaminate food or its surroundings must be controlled.

Several elements are considered throughout the categorization process, some of which are stated on foodstandards.gov.au:

• Food type and intended customer use.
• Activity of the business.
• Method of processing.
• Customer base.