Food service is now safer in NSW

The food safety in retail food businesses has vastly improved in New South Wales since 2008, with compliance to the Food safety Standards doubling in that time.

Katrina Hodgkinson, the New South Wales Minister for Primary Industries said; “Businesses are making more of an effort to ensure their workplaces are clean and hygienic which is great news for consumers. With improved compliance, food being served to customers is generally safer, resulting in an overall decreasing trend in foodborne illnesses over the past five years. It is great to see the partnership between the NSW Government’s Food Authority and local councils is well on track. The partnership ensures the responsibility to inspect food premises is shared between the authority and local councils.”

The Minister also announced that; “Around 60,000 inspections are carried out Statewide each year for retail food outlets. Inspection targets are now being met by 95 per cent of councils, compared to 43 per cent in 2008. Inspectors have been out in force ensuring food businesses are adhering to the NSW food safety laws.”

Retailers are generally pleased to see this increased surveillance and improved food safety across the industry.

Ms Hodgkinson said; “The boost in food safety standards can be attributed to increased surveillance and activity of council inspectors, and programs such as the Government’s ‘Scores on Doors’ scheme, the Name and Shame register and Food Safety Supervisor Program which assist in getting the food safety and hygiene message out to food businesses.