The NSW Food Authority have recently amended the changes commencing on 8th December 2023 for Children’s Services including Out of School Hours Care that provide meals as part of their operation.
These requirements no longer apply to:
- services handling food supplied by parents or handling only packaged food
- services where food handling is part of an educational program and not a commercial offering
- not-for-profits and charities fundraising at occasional events or providing food for free.
Services that slice, weigh, repack, reheat or hot-hold unpackaged potentially hazardous food, for example slicing fruit are required to:
- have at least one qualified onsite Food Safety Supervisor, who is reasonably available to supervise all food handlers
- ensure all food handlers are trained in food safety and hygiene or can demonstrate the adequate skills and knowledge required.
Children’s services that prepare and/or cook unpackaged, potentially hazardous food and serve it ready to eat must:
- have at least one qualified onsite Food Safety Supervisor, who is reasonably available to supervise all food handlers
- ensure all food handlers are trained in food safety and hygiene, or can demonstrate the adequate skills and knowledge required
- maintain a record of their food safety risk management or be able to show that their food is safe.
The NSW Food Authority has developed a food safety management tool and some Q&A’s around these changes. You can access this information here.
If you are unsure on how these changes apply to your service, please contact the food authority directly on 1300 552 406 or email food.contact@dpi.nsw.gov.au, Alternatively you can contact member support 02 4782 1470* press option 2.