New food safety requirements will apply to school canteens, childcare centres, supermarkets, coffee vendors selling food and boarding schools across Gunnedah and the rest of New South Wales from next month.
National standard mandating staff training and risk management procedures have been enforceable for most food businesses since 8 December, 2023, however, some business types in NSW received a 12-month extension, and now have just weeks left to prepare.
These rules apply only to businesses that sell or serve ready-to-eat unpackaged food that needs to be kept hot or cold to stay safe. Packaged food, and products like confectionary and cakes, are generally not included.
Most outlets are required to arrange formal Food Safety Supervisor training for at least one person in the business and ensure all food handlers have general food safety skills and knowledge.
Higher-risk businesses must also be able to show they are managing key food safety risks.
Gunnedah Shire Council Acting Director Community and Development Wade Berryman said the standard put in place further measures to prevent people becoming sick from eating unsafe food.
"Residents, visitors and workers in Gunnedah Shire expect and deserve a high level of food safety at the places they eat at every day," Mr Berryman said.
"We know the vast majority of our local food businesses take food safety seriously. These new measures will further strengthen practices and processes to ensure people can continue to enjoy their food secure in the knowledge that it is safe to eat."
Mr Berryman said Council would take an educative approach with local businesses as they transitioned to the new requirements.
