Why Food Safety Programs are Important for the Retail Environment

If your organisation provides food on a regular basis in a retail environment providing safe and healthy meals is of the utmost importance. This means having a up to date food safety training in place and a comprehensive food safety program, including a food safety supervisor.

Food safety can help protect the health of individuals who consume food prepared and served in the retail sector. A Food Safety Supervisor course will go a long way toward helping your organisation remain in compliance with food safety standards.

The Food Safety Supervisor:

• SIRRFSA001 Handle food safely in a retail environment 

It’s best to check with your employer which food safety course is preferred as you can study both when you work in the retail industry!

A formal food safety program includes policies, procedures and training based on industry best practices. It should include proper storage and handling of foods, cleaning and sanitising practices, temperature control guidelines, personal hygiene requirements, pest management strategies and other measures designed to reduce health risks associated with consuming contaminated or undercooked foods. The program should also include documentation protocols to ensure that all areas are adequately monitored, and records kept up to date.

Having a written policy is not enough; it’s important that staff are properly trained in all aspects of the policy. This includes understanding potential health risks associated with food contamination, cooking temperatures needed to eliminate bacteria growth, methods of preventing cross-contamination and personal hygiene standards that must be maintained while preparing meals. Once staff are properly trained in the basics of food safety, they will be able to apply best practices when working with food daily.

The Importance of Food Safety in a Retail Environment
You and your team need to know the proper techniques and methods of food procurement, storage, preparation and how and when to serve it so that it is always safe to eat. Failure to do so puts your organisation at risk of harming the people to whom you serve food.

You also need to know how to comply with national food safety standards, which are covered by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ)’s Standard 3.3.1. First and foremost, it ensures that all individuals who consume meals provided by an organisation do so safely without fear of contracting illnesses from contaminated or undercooked foods. Also, it can help mitigate legal risks associated with inadequate procedures or poor record keeping stemming from negligence related to meal preparation and service activities within an organisation’s operations.

By following industry best practices when establishing its own policies, procedures and training programs related to meal preparation activities within its operations, any business serving vulnerable persons can ensure that its customers receive safe meals prepared according to rigorous standards set forth by local authorities responsible for protecting public health from unsafe foods being served at establishments throughout the country where people rely on these services every day.

Example food businesses in the retail sector include:

• convenience stores
• delicatessens
• grocers
• retail market and stalls
• supermarkets

The training competencies for food safety supervisors in the retail and hospitality sector are:

• SITXFSA005 Use hygienic practices for food safety
• SITXFSA006 Participate in safe food handling practices
  OR
• SIRRFSA001 Handle food safely in a retail environment 

It’s best to check with your employer which food safety course is preferred as you can study both when you work in the retail industry!

Having a trained supervisor on hand ensures that the population within retail facilities will not be needlessly exposed to food risk because of inexperienced or improperly trained staff. With proper training, you can better understand food safety principles and regulations and ensure the lowest possible risk to this vulnerable population.

To book training for your team, visit the Retail Food Safety Supervisor page on our website and gain the qualification that allows you to manage food handling in QLD, VIC, WA, NT, & SA.