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Given the increasing number of requests for our Rotary BBQ service, it is advisable that more members undertake Food Safety training to avoid any potential food poisoning of our customers. Everyone who works with food is responsible for the delivery of safe food to the customer. All food premises, including for-profit businesses, community and not-for-profit groups, that sell food are legally required to ensure that the food they prepare is safe for people to eat, regardless of the type or class of food sold. The Victorian Food Act (1984) separates food premises into four classes based on the food safety risks of their highest risk food handling activity. Different requirements and obligations apply for each of the four classes of food premises and the Act sets out what must be done to make sure that the food sold in each class is safe to eat. Sausage sizzles, where only sausages (with or without onions, sauce and bread) are cooked and served immediately, are class 4 – the lowest level of regulation. As a class 4, you may also carry out any other class 4 food activities, such as selling bottled water or soft drinks. Food handlers at a sausage sizzle do not have to attend accredited food safety training courses to meet the skills and knowledge requirements for handling food safely. The Do Food Safely is a free, online food handlers' learning program provided by the Department of Health and Human Services' Food Safety Unit. The program is designed for food handlers and can be used as a learning tool for volunteers and staff. It takes about an hour to complete, and a Certificate of Completion is issued to those who achieve a score of at least 90 per cent on the quiz at the end of the program. The quiz consists of 30 multiple choice quesions. All Club members are encouraged to do the Do Food Safety program and undertake the assessment at the end. The more members who have undertaken Food Safety handling, the more flexible, safe and reliable our service will be. You can find the free program at: https://dofoodsafely.health.vic.gov.au. |
