Handwashing an issue on Name and Shame List

With Global Handwashing Day rapidly approaching, it is scary that in the last 12 months there have been 170 handwashing related offences listed on the New South Wales Food Authority’s Name and Shame List, with two of those added in just the last two weeks.

The offences primarily related to the failure to maintain adequate hand washing facilities according to the Food Standards Code.

The Code requires that there must be a clean separate handwashing sink with suitable facilities.

Ms.Katrina Hodgkinson, the Federal Minister for Primary Industries, said; “Hand-washing is at the very foundation of correct and safe food handling. In New South Wales, each penalty notice carries a fine of $880 for a corporation and $440 for an individual as well as the unenviable honour of being placed on the Name and Shame list where consumers can easily see the breaches of their local food outlets.”

What business would want to be known as having poor handwashing, as it is the main method we all having of reducing food poisoning? That is the strength of the List – the public knowledge of the offence.

The Name and Shame List can be found at www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/penalty-notice