Christmas food safety update for 2017.
This end of year newsletter aims to inform you about changes in the food industry late 2017. We will continue to keep you informed during 2018 with our summary of important updates every 2 months or as important updates are required in any specific industry sector. Also check out our website news blog for progressive updates and useful resources.
- FSANZ food pathogen profiles
- Temperature monitoring guideline- VIC Health (draft)
- NSW Food Authority Vulnerable Persons update 2018
- NSW Container Deposit scheme launch December 2017
- FSANZ Plastic packaging review
- SQF edition 8 - January 2018
FSANZ food pathogen profiles
FSANZ has released new resources profiling the various food poisoning microorganisms. Each profile sheet provides succinct clear information on the food poisoning agent, with the symptoms of illness and prevention steps. Information sheets on Campylobacter, Norovirus, Listeria, Salmonella, Hepatitus A and other pathogens you may want to know about. Find the profiles here:
Remote temperature monitoring of fridges, freezers.
Checking the temperature of food storage areas such as fridges and freezers is a critical daily food safety task for most businesses, to ensure the storage areas are maintaining food at a safe temperature.
Many business's are using technology now, with thermocouples transmitting the temperature of fridges and freezers continuously, and have an alert or alarm system.
Victoria's Department of Health has released a guideline to manage the alternative system on monitoring temperature, to ensure your system is accurate and reliable in its readings, and alerts.
The guidance information can be accessed here.
NSW Food Authority - Food Service to Vulnerable Populations
NSW Food Authority held an industry forum in November, focusing on Food Service for Vulnerable Persons. Some interesting points are listed below:
- 68% of facilities use a 3rd party auditor
- Overall compliance is 98% with 91% of facilities achieving an A rating
- CAR's included not recording food safety monitoring activities, such as time and temperature of cooling
- Deli meats need care and validation
- Listeria and Salmonella are pathogens of focus in this sector
Correct Food Systems can assist any facility serving food to Vulnerable Populations with third party auditing or consultancy to develop food safety programs.
Container Deposit Scheme
NSW launched the "Return & Earn" container deposit scheme on 1st December.
NSW Government has different types of collection points and payments across NSW:
- reverse vending machines (a voucher to be redeemed at a participating retailer, a direct payment to your bank account via PayPal, or a donation to one of the charities shown on the RVM screen)
- over-the-counter collection points (cash refund)
- automated depots. (cash refund)
Most 150ml to three litre drink containers will be eligible for a 10 cent refund, and should be empty, uncrushed, with the label intact.
More information available from NSW EPA
FSANZ packaging review
FSANZ undertook a research project in 2017 to assess whether there were any unmanaged risks from packaging chemicals migrating into food. FSANZ has determined that estimated dietary exposure to chemicals from packaging is low and not of concern for human health. Packaging in contact with food should be suitable for that purpose.
Edition 8 SQF auditable January 2018
Edition 8 SQF is auditable for SQF certification on 02 Jan 2018.
Correct Food Systems can assist you to achieve SQF certification or update to meet the new requirements.
Training- position your business for a successful new year.....
Correct Training Systems has announced and published its calendar of scheduled public training workshops for 2018. Please refer to our calendar on our website and information about the courses we regularly conduct.
More than half the training we deliver is non accredited tailor designed courses, conducted on site for our client's businesses.
Correct Training Systems has been busy working with a number of food service and retail clients to conduct Food Safety Supervisor Refresher Training over the past few months.
Several of our clients have also reported their satisfaction with the business specific Induction resource we have developed in various formats, documenting all new employees receive the information and are skilled up ready to commence work, using safe work procedures.
All businesses with product recall or product liability insurance should check with their insurance company if they can access preincident funding for risk management strategies such as training programs offered by Correct Food Systems.
The Dogs Page
"The Dog's Page" is a humourous, larrikin, irreverent look at food safety and food incidents from around the world.
- Water harvested from icebergs in Svarbard near Norway is being sold as 4,000-year-old water at a price of $150 per bottle.
- A French lifestyle blogger has been killed by an exploding whipped cream dispenser which exploded, hitting her chest and causing cardiac arrest
Seasons Greetings
CFS recognise that this is a busy time of year for all our client businesses. We will continue to be available to assist you over the Christmas New Year period ph 1300 769 937.
Correct Food Systems is gearing up to assist you with the labelling changes such as Country of Origin (July 2018) and Lupin as an allergen ( May 2018)
and any further changes to legislation or industry guidelines, Food Standards Code and customer standards that are anticipated in 2018.
We wish you and your staff a Happy Christmas and prosperous 2018
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