School canteens

School canteens, as a food business, need to notify the local council of their business and food activity details.

From 1 September 2015, notification is satisfied via applications to local council for services, permits and approvals.

• Contact your local council

School canteens are not required to appoint a Food Safety Supervisor.

The canteen manager is responsible for ensuring that all food handlers, including parents and volunteers, are confident and competent in the task they are asked to do.

See further information under Skills & knowledge.

Canteen managers should ensure they and their staff:

• do not prepare food for others if you they are ill and remember to cover up wounds
• always wash hands thoroughly with warm soapy water and dry thoroughly with paper towel before and after touching food
• tie hair back, remove or cover jewellery and wear clean protective clothing
• keep raw meat in sealed containers at the bottom of the fridge so juices don't run onto other foods
• keep cold food cold and hot food hot
• store ready to eat foods above vegetables and meat in the fridge
• always sanitise or change chopping boards and utensils every time they ares used for raw food
• keep the canteen free from vermin and animals by closing doors, using windows with screens, cleaning equipment and discarding of rubbish effectively.

Your local council will inspect your school canteen to ensure it meets the food safety standards in the Food Standards Code.

For more information visit the inspections section of the website.

The canteen manager is responsible for ensuring that all food handlers, including parents and volunteer, are confident and competent in the task they are asked to do.

Food handlers should have knowledge and skills appropriate to the type of food they are receiving preparing, storing and serving, particularly if it is hazardous (raw meat, eggs) or is not going to be thoroughly cooked before it is eaten.

All volunteers should have a basic understanding of:

• why bacteria grow
• how to avoid cross contamination
• personal hygiene requirements
• temperature control for cooking, reheating, cooling, defrosting, storing and displaying foods..

Operators of school canteens need to ensure:

• adequate hand washing facilities are available - check with local council on what is considered adequate
• food is kept protected from pests and vermin at all stages, including storage of ingredients
• premises are designed to exclude pests where practical
• adequate refrigeration capacity is essential - overloading domestic refrigerators and constantly opening the door means food takes longer to cool and harmful microorganisms have more chance to grow
• refrigerate foods in small portions to allow proper cooling
• refrigerated foods should be kept below 5°C.

School canteens need to practice safe food handling and preparation to meet the same food safety requirements as other retail food businesses.

This includes:

• notifying the local council of their business and food activity details.
• meeting the requirements of the Food Standards Code
  • Standard 3.2.2 - Food Safety Practices and General Requirements
  • Standard 3.2.3 - Food Premises and Equipment, and
  • Part 1.2 - Labelling and other information requirements.