Food Safety in Canteens and Other Food Services

Policy

The purpose of this policy is to ensure food is prepared and handled safely in school food premises.

Summary

• Food premises on school grounds, including school canteens and other food services such as fundraiser food stalls, must demonstrate that food is safe to eat in accordance with the Food Act 1984 (Vic) (the Act) and Food Standards Code.
• School food premises are classified by local councils as class 2, 3 or 4 under the Food Act depending on the type of food they handle and the food safety risk.
• Each classification has different food safety requirements which may include registering or notifying with local council, having a food safety supervisor, food handler training, or preparing a food safety program.
• Permanent food premises (a site that has a permanent structure, such as a school canteen) must be registered with the local council.
• Temporary food premises for fundraising activities that are staffed mostly by volunteers, such as stalls at a fete or sausage sizzle, must register or notify the local council via the Department of Health’s online registration portal FoodTrader. These premises typically do not require a food safety program or food safety supervisor.
• The local council will confirm the food premise classification and registration or notification and food safety requirements.

Details

A food business is an enterprise or activity involving the sale of food. Food premises on school grounds, including school canteens and other food services such as food stalls for fundraisers, must demonstrate that food is safe to eat in accordance with the Food Act 1984 (Vic) (the Act) and Food Standards Code.

Food businesses are classified into one of 5 classes by their local council depending on the food safety risk. Class 1 is the highest risk level and class 4 is the lowest risk level:

• Class 1 premises handle or serve potentially hazardous food to vulnerable people (such as a hospital).
• Class 2 premises (typically includes canteens) handle potentially hazardous foods.
• Class 3 premises handle low-risk foods or pre-packaged potentially hazardous foods.
• Class 3A premises are home-based businesses and accommodation getaway premises that undertake specific food handling activities.
• Class 4 premises handle pre-packaged or low-risk foods (such as a sausage sizzle).

For more information, visit the Department of Health’s Classifications for food businesses.

Each class has different food safety requirements which are enforced by local council.

Canteens

School canteens are typically classified as Class 2 food premises as they handle unpackaged, potentially hazardous food.

If the canteen is run by the school, school councils must ensure that the canteen meets legislative requirements. If the school canteen is run by a third party provider, refer to the Canteens policy and information in the school council canteen license on the Licence and Agreement Templates page (staff login required).

Canteen operators must:

• register the canteen with the local council
• prepare a food safety program, if required (refer to the Guidance tab for more information)
• implement the following food safety management tools:
  1. appoint a certified food safety supervisor
  2. ensure all food handlers complete a food safety course (refer to DoFoodSafely in the Resources tab) or have appropriate food safety skills and knowledge
  3. if the canteen is not required to have a food safety program, be able to show how they manage critical food safety controls.

Contact the local council’s environmental health officer for details of requirements.

Visit the Guidance tab for more information on requirements or the Department of Health’s information on food safety management tools.

Fundraising food stalls, barbeques and sausage sizzles (temporary food premises)

Temporary food premises such as school fetes, barbecues or sausage sizzles may be classified as class 2, 3 or 4 premises. Food fundraisers which are mostly staffed by volunteers and operate as a standalone event or just one or 2 days at a time, must:

• register with the local council, or notify them using the Department of Health’s online registration tool, Foodtrader
  • annual registration is required for class 1-3 premises
  • once-off notification is required for class 4 premises unless there is a change in type of food that will be sold
• meet other food safety requirements depending on the food premise classification, such as having a food safety program. The local council will confirm requirements.

For more information on requirements for common fundraising activities, visit the Department of Health’s FoodTrader fundraiser information, Information for community groups fundraising with food or the Guidance tab.

For links to guidance on safe food handling practices, visit the Resource tab.

If unsure of requirements, schools can contact their local council environmental health officer to seek advice.

Outside of School Hours Care

If a school provides care for children before or after school hours or during school holidays where food is provided as part of the service, the Act applies and a class determination is required.

School councils must ensure that a school council operated service meets food safety legislative requirements. If unsure of requirements, school councils can contact the local council environmental health officer to seek advice. If the service is operated by a third party, it is the responsibility of the approved provider to ensure they meet requirements.

Food allergies and anaphylaxis

Contact with certain foods or proteins (such as peanuts, tree nuts such as cashews, lupin, cow’s milk, egg, gluten, soy, fish, crustacea and sesame) can be fatal for people with allergies to these foods.

Government school canteens and other food services must comply with the department’s Allergies policy and Anaphylaxis policy to manage students at risk of allergic reactions or anaphylaxis.

For further information on the obligations of food businesses refer to Food allergens.

School staff involved in food preparation can complete All about Allergens training for food service to gain knowledge about food allergens and develop best practice procedures to ensure safe food provision to students and staff with a food allergy. Further information on food service management is available at the All about Allergens resource hub.

Definitions

Food handler
A food handler is a person who directly engages in the handling of food, or who handles surfaces likely to be in contact with food (such as crockery, utensils, cooking equipment and surfaces), including anyone who is working or volunteering, even at ad hoc times.

Food safety program
A food safety program is a written plan that shows what a business does to ensure that the food it sells is safe for people to eat. It is an important tool to help businesses safely handle, process or sell potentially hazardous foods and maintain safe food handling practices to protect public health. The Department of Health has a free standard food safety program template for use by class 2 premises, available on the FoodSmart website.

High-risk food handling processes
High risk food handling processes are:

• sous vide cooking below 75°C
• handling of potentially hazardous foods (see Definition) without temperature control
• acidified or fermented foods/drinks
• preparing ready to eat foods containing raw eggs
• preparing ready to eat raw or rare minced or chopped meats
• preparing ready to eat raw or rare poultry or game meat
• off-site catering where ready to eat potentially hazardous food is prepared or partially prepared in one location, transported to another location, where the food is served at a catering event
• any complex food process activity that does not use temperature control.

Potentially hazardous food
Potentially hazardous food is food that must be kept at certain temperatures to minimise the growth of any pathogenic microorganisms that may be present in the food, or to prevent the formation of toxins in the food. Potentially hazardous food includes:

• raw and cooked meat/poultry or foods containing raw or cooked meat/poultry, for example, burgers, curries, kebabs, meat pies
• foods containing eggs (cooked or raw), beans, nuts or other protein-rich food, for example, batter, quiche, fresh pasta, and soybean products
• dairy products and foods containing dairy products, for example, dairy-based desserts, bakery products filled with fresh cream or fresh custard
• seafood and foods containing seafood, for example, sushi, fish patties
• sprouted seeds, for example, beans and alfalfa
• prepared fruits and vegetables, for example, cut melons, salads and unpasteurised juices
• cooked rice and pasta
• foods that contain any of the above foods, for example, sandwiches, pizzas and rice rolls.

Related policies

• Allergies
• Anaphylaxis
• Building Quality Standards Handbook (BQSH) – School Construction and Design Standards
• Canteens
• Outside School Hours Care – Decision Making Regarding the Provision of OSHC
• School-funded Capital Projects

Relevant legislation

• Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code
• Food Act 1984 (Vic)

Guidance

This guidance provides further information that will assist schools in complying with food safety requirements. It contains the following chapters:

• Food safety program
• Demonstrate critical food safety controls
• Food safety supervisor
• Food handler training
• Requirements for common fundraising food stalls, barbeques and sausage sizzles (temporary food premises staffed mostly by volunteers)
• Setting up a permanent canteen or temporary food premise

Food safety program

If a school class 2 canteen conducts one or more high risk handling processes outlined in the Definitions section, a food safety program must be prepared by the canteen. The Department of Health has a free standard food safety program template for use by class 2 premises, available on the FoodSmart website.

It is recommended that the food safety program be completed by an appropriate person with knowledge of the specific processes that the school canteen undertakes, for example, the food safety supervisor. If a school is unsure of food safety program requirements, they can contact their local council to seek advice.

If a food safety program is required, it must be lodged with the local council at the time of registration and annual re-registration.

Demonstrate critical food safety controls

If a class 2 canteen is not required to have a food safety program, the canteen will need to be able to substantiate critical food safety controls. This means the canteen must demonstrate they are meeting the prescribed provisions in existing food safety standards for:

• temperature control
• food processing
• cleaning and sanitising.

This can be done by keeping a record or by demonstrating compliance to the authorised food safety officer from local council.

If a school canteen has a food safety program, the required controls are covered by the food safety program.

Food safety supervisor

Regardless of whether the canteen is required to have a food safety program, a class 2 canteen must have an appointed food safety supervisor with the training, skills and knowledge to ensure that:

• all regulations are followed
• anyone handling food has the correct training
• other food handlers are supervised to ensure food handling is done safely.

The food safety supervisor:

• does not have to always be on the premises, however, they must know how food is being handled when they are not present
• must have an active role in the canteen. If they leave the role or take an extended absence (for example, more than 30 days) the canteen must appoint a replacement within 30 operational days and notify the local council
• must be able to produce their Statement of Attainment provided by the training organisation, if requested to do so by the local environmental health officer from local council.

For information on the competency standards required for the canteens, seek the advice of the local council. For school operated canteens, it is recommended that school council seek written confirmation from the appointed food safety supervisor that necessary training has been obtained.

For more information, visit the Department of Health’s Food safety supervisors and How to become a food safety supervisor – FAQ (DOCX).

Food handler training

Class 2 canteen operators must ensure all food handlers, including volunteers, either:

• complete a food safety course which includes, at a minimum, content on safe handling of food, food contamination, cleaning and sanitising of food contact surfaces and equipment, and personal hygiene (refer to DoFoodSafely for a free online course offered by the Department of Health)
• possess adequate skills in food safety and hygiene to do the activity they are required to do correctly and keep food safe. This means a food handler’s prior learning can be recognised without needing to complete a training course, such as competency-based food safety training, workplace education, or previous experience in the food industry if relevant to the activities they do.

It is recommended that records are kept on staff training to easily demonstrate to authorised officers that the canteen is meeting food handler training requirements.

Refer to the next chapter for requirements for food fundraisers staffed mostly by volunteers.

Requirements for common fundraising food stalls, barbeques and sausage sizzles (temporary food premises for one-off events staffed mostly by volunteers)

The local council will confirm which food safety requirements are required, if any, when registering with council or notifying council through FoodTrader. Typically:

• sausage sizzles where only sausages (with or without onions, sauce and bread) are cooked and served immediately, or cake stalls selling cakes that are prepacked, covered and do not contain cream fillings are classified as class 4 premises. These premises require council notification, but no food safety program or food safety supervisor
• stalls selling hamburgers are a class 3 premise and require council registration but no food safety program or food safety supervisor
• stalls with perishable foods such as sandwiches with cheese or scones with cream are class 2 premises and require council registration and may require a food safety program.

Volunteers working at school fundraising events do not need to get formal food safety qualifications but anyone who handles food for sale to the public is encouraged to complete the Department of Health’s free online learning program, DoFoodSafely, to improve their knowledge of safe food handling practices.

For more information on requirements for common fundraising activities, visit the Department of Health’s FoodTrader fundraiser information or Information for community groups fundraising with food.

Setting up a permanent canteen or temporary food premise

Permanent canteens need to be built and designed so that food can be prepared safely and efficiently.

Temporary food premises such as food stalls for a fete, barbecues or sausage sizzles must be constructed and have appropriate facilities to ensure food safety, such as refrigeration, rubbish bins and hand and utensil washing facilities.

Contact the local council’s environmental health officer for further information on requirements specific to your situation.

Resources

Council notification and registration for temporary food premises

• Foodtrader – Department of Health’s online notification and registration portal

Food safety program template

• Food safety program template – the Department of Health has created an easy-to-use free standard food safety program template for use by class 2 premises. The template is available from FoodSmart.

Food safety training and food handling guidance

• DoFoodSafely – a free, non-accredited, online learning program provided by the Department of Health Victoria and supported by Queensland Health, Tasmania Health and South Australia Health
• Food allergens
• Recommended personal hygiene practices for food handlers
• Recommended safe food preparation, storage and display practices

Food premise classifications and food safety regulations

• Food businesses
• Classifications for food businesses
• Food safety management tools
• Food safety supervisors
• How to become a food safety supervisor FAQ (DOCX) – contains information on food safety supervisor certification
• Food Safety Standards — contains information about food safety standards and food safety issues

Food fundraiser requirements

• FoodTrader community group fundraisers
• Information for community groups fundraising with food

Other useful websites

• Local council contact details
• Home Economics Victoria – contains professional development opportunities for teachers, curriculum support and other resources