Coffs Harbour food safety meeting
Food safety will be on the menu when Coffs Harbour City Council hosts the next Food Regulation Partnership meeting on Thursday 21 July 2016.
NSW Food Authority CEO Dr Lisa Szabo said the forum is one of a series of regular consultation events the NSW Food Authority delivers across the state.
"Food safety is the top priority of the NSW Food Authority and having direct contact like this is an effective way of providing information, education and dialogue between retail food businesses, council Environmental Health Officers, who are responsible for the inspections of food retail premises, and the Food Authority," Dr Szabo said.
"With approximately 450 food businesses in the Coffs Harbour Local Government Area, the region is renowned for its fresh local food and has an established reputation as a foodie tourist destination.
"This is a great opportunity for the Food Authority and its food regulation partners to talk to local food businesses about issues specific to Coffs and surrounding areas and broader food safety issues."
Included in discussion will be initiatives including the Scores on Doors food hygiene rating program.201
"We were thrilled to see Coffs Harbour City Council officially launch the Scores on Doors program earlier this month and I would encourage people to come and see how they can achieve, and importantly – keep, a 5 star food rating for their business," Dr Szabo said.
Coffs Harbour City Council Mayor Denise Knight said local food retailers had been quick to embrace the Scores on Doors program since launching it on 1 July 2016.
"Encouragingly we have already issued 129 ‘5’ Star certificates, 89 ‘4’ Star and 38 ‘3’ Star certificates which is a strong showing of the excellent compliance record with food safety in this region," Cr Knight said.
"I encourage our local food retailers to come along and learn how to best capitalise on their good reputation as safe and hygienic operators."
The food safety meeting will also deliver presentations on egg safety and how to reduce the risk of Salmonella, pest control, and allergen management for retail food businesses.
"This meeting is a chance for food business operators to come along and learn about food safety regulations and also for them to have their say," Dr Szabo said.
"Improving food safety standards, reducing foodborne illness and driving consumer confidence in the sector is a two way street."
The Food Regulation Partnership meeting will be held at the Novotel Coffs Harbour Pacific Bay Resort on Thursday 21 July 2016 from 9am – 11.30 am.