Council has moved to raise the level of hygiene in its many food premises. With the City looking to enhance its tourism potential, having top quality eateries is a priority. Newcastle FoodSafeTM provides a hygiene training course to ensure food handlers are aware of ways to minimise the chances of food contamination.
Food poisoning still remains the most preventable disease in Australia and often the cause can be traced back to poor food handling practices. The first of its kind in NSW, FoodSafeTM is designed to promote good industry practice in both food handling and hygiene.
Manager Health and Environment Jock Graham said feedback from the industry has been very good. Over 25 premises are already accredited with another 60 in the process of achieving accreditation.
He said it is a self managed program coordinated by Council and available to businesses or individuals. By the time new national food handling legislation is introduced, the FoodSafeTM program will be well established.
Those businesses completing the course receive accreditation and can then display the FoodSafeTM logo publicising their business as having safe food handling practices.
Newcastle FoodSafeTM is a leading food industry initiative providing confidence to consumers that the food they are eating has been handled with care.
For further information contact Jock Graham, telephone (02) 4974 2521
