The Barunga West Council has a legislative duty of care to promote appropriate food safety practices and prevent food poisoning by administrating the:
- Food Act 2001
- Food Regulations 2002
- Food Safety Standards
The Environmental Health Officer ensures that food businesses operate in accordance with those Standards through a range of services including:
- Routine inspections
- Investigation of food complaints and food poisoning incidents
CHANGES TO FOOD SAFETY STANDARDS
In effect from 8 December 2023
Majority of food-handling businesses in South Australia will be impacted by a new Food Safety Standard (3.2.2A - Food Safety Management Tools) that has recently come into effect. You may be affected if you operate one of the following:
- Restaurant
- Café
- Supermarket
- Petrol station
- Deli
- Takeaway food store or truck
- Sporting or community club
- or sell ready-to-eat, unpackaged food
The Standard introduces new requirements for all food service, catering, and retail businesses that handle unpackaged, ready-to-eat, and potentially hazardous foods.
Impacted businesses must implement either two or three new food safety management tools, depending on their category (see image for reference), which is based on the risk of the food handling activities of the business.
The tools are:
- mandatory food handler training
- implementation of a food safety supervisor
- substantiation of key food handling activities
Food Handler Training
The food handler training tool requires food handlers who handle high risk foods to complete a food safety training course in, or be able to show they understand, safe handling of food, food contamination, cleaning and sanitising equipment, and personal hygiene. The business must make sure their food handlers have adequate skills and knowledge before they start working with high-risk foods.
The free, online DoFoodSafely training program is an example of a food safety training course and is available in multiple languages. Training may also be delivered from other online platforms, Registered Training Organisations (RTOs), in-house programs or local government food safety regulators.
See also the Food handler training frequently asked questions.
Food Safety Supervisor
The supervision of food handler’s tool requires businesses to appoint a qualified food safety supervisor who is available to oversee day to day food handling operations, help food handlers to handle food safely, and make sure food safety risks are managed. The food safety supervisor must have been certified within the last five years.
View the list of organisations who can offer food safety supervisor certification in SA.
For a complete list of Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) that offer the FSS skill sets/units nationally search the course unit names or codes on the training.gov.au website.
See also the Food Safety Supervision frequently asked questions.
Showing you are managing food safety controls
Food businesses must show that they’re meeting the prescribed provisions by keeping a record or by demonstrating compliance to their food safety regulator, in the same way they already show regulators they’re meeting these existing food safety standards.
Businesses can show they are managing key food safety controls by keeping written or electronic records, making a note on invoices, taking photos, having written standard operating procedures, and walking and talking through the process with the food safety regulator. Templates are available to assist with record keeping and if made, records must be kept for at least 3 months.
See also the Managing prescribed provisions frequently asked questions.
Affected businesses must implement the Standards before 8 December 2023.
If you have any queries about how the new Food Safety Standard will impact your business, please contact Council’s Development & Regulatory Services, on 08 8635 2107 or barunga@barungawest.sa.gov.au
Further information can be found on SA Health’s website.
Food Complaints
Council's Environmental Health Officer responds to public complaints regarding alleged food poisoning, poor food handling or cleanliness, and food found to contain foreign objects. If you have concerns about any of these issues at food businesses in the Barunga West area, please contact Council's Development and Regulatory Services team on (08) 8635 2107.
Under the Food Act 2001 and associated Food Safety Standards, Council will investigate your complaint. All complaints are treated as confidential and, if you leave your details, you will be kept informed of the progress and outcome of the investigation.
Issues relating to customer service at food premises are not investigated by the Council.