« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Don’t just clean – do it properly

Wednesday, August 18th, 2010 by Green Food Safety Coach

I was at a client’s business today doing an unscheduled housekeeping audit.

As you would expect I run my hand across the top of ovens and hoods etc  to check that they have been propoerly cleaned as part of that. Today however I didn’t need to because I could see across the top of an oven (just, as I am average height) and was astounded by what I saw.

I could clearly see where the staff member had reached up and wiped the top surface but had only reached about 3/4 of the way across and then left it like that. You could clearly see where the reach of their arm had gone by the clean area.

If that wasn’t bad enough, you could easily reach the back of the oven top from the side, but it had not been done!!!

Cleaning is a serious issue and a vital control for food safety. It must be done properly every single time. Only going as far as you can reach, is simply not good enough.

Posted in Cleaning | No Comments »

A food safety program is like a garden

Tuesday, August 17th, 2010 by Green Food Safety Coach

For a garden to grow, it needs maintenance and attention. Without that the garden will either die or become overgrown or both. The gardener is the key and for the garden to thrive, this person must be committed an be prepared to put in the required time and effort.

A food safety program is very much the same. Developing it and the implementation is like the setting up the garden beds and then the planting of the seeds and plants.

Just like a garden, a food safety program needs regular maintenance to ensure that it is kept in control and improving. Verification of sheets is essential to maintaining the food safety program, just like watering of the plants in the garden.

Regular audits and management review in food safety programs are like the trimming of plants and fertilising in the garden. They keep things under control and help the business grow and improve.

Posted in Food Safety, Uncategorized | No Comments »

OzFoodNet monitors food poisoning in Australia

Monday, August 16th, 2010 by Green Food Safety Coach

OzFoodNet is a body set up to monitor food poisoning incidents in Australia.  It is well worth a look – http://www.ozfoodnet.gov.au/

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

In the US Norovirus is main cause of food poisoning

Monday, August 16th, 2010 by Green Food Safety Coach

A report recently released by the CDC in the US has shown that in 2007, Norovirus was the main cause of food poisoning and poultry was the main food source.

For more details go to the article on my website – www.howsafeisyourfood.com.au/articles.html

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Community groups need to have FS training too!!!

Saturday, August 14th, 2010 by Green Food Safety Coach

Today I am off to run basic food safety training for members of several community groups.

Many of these people, at first, did not realize that if they handle food as part of their community group events then they are required to have the food safety skills and knowledge to do their role within those events.

A food handler is anyone who comes into contact with food or food contact surfaces. That means that is is not onlypaid staff but volunteers that must meet this requiement.

If you are involved in a community group and it does food at events, then you need to have had some form of food safety training.

I run food safety training for businesses and groups regularly, and tailor it to the specific group in the room. The training can be done by face to face or even a webinar.

Email me if you need such training and we can work out the details – anyi@howsafeisyourfood.com.au

Posted in Training | No Comments »

Foodie Friday – where is Qld’s best sausage?

Friday, August 13th, 2010 by Green Food Safety Coach

The best sausages in Queensland have been named for 2010 at the EKKA from over 800 entries.

The following are the overall winning Sausage Kings;

Beef – Trinity Beach Quality Meats, Pork – Zac’s Meats, Lamb, Feta & Shallots – Kingwood Park Butchery, Best Continental – Circle T Meats ( Spanish Chorizo), Top Gourmet - Terry Orreals Quality Meats ( Beef Curry & Onion), and Top Poultry – Allora Butchery (Chicken, Cheese and Chives).

These winners are now going on to represent Queensland at the National Titles in Tasmania next year.

Three Queensland sausages were amongst the national winners this year.

FRIDAY’S GREEN TIP

Sustainability is not just for big businesses, it is a necessity for all sizes. Even small and micro businesses can benefit financially from saving energy, packaging and water, whilst helping the environment.

Every little bit helps!

Tags:
Posted in Sustainability | No Comments »

Food Safety Supervisor Refresher

Thursday, August 12th, 2010 by Green Food Safety Coach

Licensed food businesses in Queensland must have at least one Food safety Supervisor available whenever food is being handled.

So people are attending course all over the place by face to face and on-line to meet this requirement and present copies of their certificates to their local councils.

The problem with this is thes people forget the majority of what they learnt in their class and are, most often than not, unaware of any changes to food law that may affect their business.

That’s why it makes sense to have the Food Safety Supervisor knowledge and skills topped up every year,  just like those with a CPR certificate have to do.

I have written Queensland’s only current FSS Annual Refresher, available as both a four hour face to face class or webinar.

If this is something that interests you, get in touch by email – anyi@howsafeisyourfood.com.au for details.

Tags:
Posted in Food Allergens, Food Law, Food Safety, Training | 1 Comment »

Renovations are a nightmare!!!

Tuesday, August 10th, 2010 by Green Food Safety Coach

I have seen many food businesses renovate their kitchen or building and go through the traumas associated.

No matter what the plan is and how it happens, there will always be things wrong with the new facility.

To address this and, hopefully, stop it from being a big issue, know what you want from the beginning and have a very clear idea of your budget.

Make sure you work with the designers and builder throughout the whole process and do not sign off until you are happy. Poor workmanship is not acceptable- holes in wall and things not finished are not uncommon.

Tags:
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Cloned meat in UK Food Chain

Monday, August 9th, 2010 by Green Food Safety Coach

Meat from a cloned bull made it’s way into the food chain in the UK in the last year, and was consumed.

This has created some concern as some members of the public are still worried about the implications of cloning and particularly the food getting into the food chain and being eaten.

There is an article on my website about this incident in the UK.

www.howsafeisyourfood.com.au/articles.html

Tags:
Posted in Food Safety | No Comments »

Foodie Friday -what about something a little different?

Friday, August 6th, 2010 by Green Food Safety Coach

There is a retailer based in the UK that has set up an on line shop to sell ethically produced and extremely unusual foods and skincare.

Edible sells five or six groups of foods, including herbivores and carnivore, from all over the world. The products include; oven-baked tarantulas, scorpion vodka, and of course, civet coffee.

This is coffee made from coffee beans that have first passed through the Civet Cat, before being collected and roasted. It has a distinct flavour and is unique in the coffee world.

The foods and skincare products can be checked out and ordered through http://www.edible.com/

 Anyone  wanting to buy any of the products should check with their Quarantine and Inspection Service  to ensure it is safe to bring into their country.

Friday’s Green Tip – Sustainability should be included on the Balance Sheet, as it is key to any business.

Posted in Sustainability | 1 Comment »

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »