The following web sites are useful reference points for information about food safety programs and food safety in general. Many contain valuable training fact sheets for training your staff and volunteers and for communicating the food safety message to your customers and end consumers.

NSW Food Authority

There is up to date information on the requirements for Meals on Wheels Services at:- http://www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/industry/industry-sector-requirements/food-service-to-vulnerable-populations/

There is a useful fact sheet which the NSW Food Authority has put on the web site which outlines which services need to be licensed with the NSW Food Authority:- http://www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/_Documents/industry_vp_pdf/vp_factsheet.pdf

Extensive information on licensing for Meals on Wheels can be found at:- http://www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/industry/industry-sector-requirements/food-service-to-vulnerable-populations/licensing/

At this site you can download the License (in either word or as a pdf document) and the Guide for applying for a license.

The Vulnerable Persons Food Safety Scheme Manual has been prepared to explain the new requirements in more detail. The manual can be downloaded at:- http://www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/industry/industry-sector-requirements/food-service-to-vulnerable-populations/vulnerable-persons-food-safety-scheme-manual/

There are also useful fact sheets with general food safety information, updates on food safety in NSW as well as translated fact sheets in other languages. These can be found at:- http://www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/industry/translated-pages-for-industry/

FSANZ – Food Standards Australia New Zealand

This web site for the Food Standards Australia New Zealand contains useful information regarding the latest changes to the food safety standards and food safety in Australia in general.

Australian Food Standards Code

The Australian Food Standards Code can be ordered and/or downloaded on this web site.

You can obtain a hard copy of the Australian Food Standards Code by phoning FSANZ on 03 92781144 or on-line at www.anzfa.anstat.com.au

FSANZ – Food Standards Australia New Zealand Fact Sheets

FSANZ publishes some really useful fact sheets which can be used by your organisation to train and inform staff, volunteers and suppliers. There are also translated fact sheets in other languages.

NSW Food Notification

Every NSW Meals on Wheels organisation must be either licensed with the NSW Food Authority OR registered with the council. To find out if your meals on wheels organisation needs to have a license or have notification with your local council, refer to the NSW Food Authority Fact Sheet

If you are not required to have a licence with the NSW Food authority, register your MOW organisation at the following web site. It is a quick easy process and is free.

www.foodnotify.nsw.gov.au

OzFoodNet

The OzFoodNet web site provides a summary of all national outbreaks of food-borne illness and food recalls and is a very useful site to refer to regarding commonly occurring outbreaks and the causes of food borne illness in the Health and Community Services sector throughout Australia.

Food Safety Matters

This monthly newsletter is an invaluable resource for Meals on Wheels service organisations and is produced by the Queensland Department of Health.

Food safety matters is an excellent training resource on how to handle food safely and is aimed at the consumer. This makes it a good resource when training staff and volunteers.

This website explains how to keep food safe at home, school and work and has free training resources which can be viewed and downloaded.

Food Safety information Council

The Food Safety Information Council aims to reduce the number of Australians getting sick from food poisoning by providing simple, easy to follow consumer information on the handling, storage and preparation of food.

The Council is supported by the Australia Department of Health and Ageing.

Council members include representatives of state, territory and local government and food safety agencies, the food industry, community groups and professional associations.

This web site has really good information including; information about Food Safety Week (Held in November of each year), Fact Sheets, Frequently asked questions, food safety Quizzes, Articles and Surveys etc. You can also order food safety posters, Educational material and brochures.

Other Australian State Food Authorities

Each state and Territory in Australia has a Food Authority to govern and monitor food safety in the Health, aged and community care sectors. Some of these web sites have very useful information with resources for training staff and volunteers and for managing your Food Safety Program and have resources for developing your Food Safety Program. The most useful food safety web sites are the Queensland and Victorian web sites. These have additional fact sheets and information that you may find useful.

This web site for the Food Standards Australia New Zealand contains useful information regarding the latest changes to the food safety standards and food safety in Australia in general.

This web site for the Food Standards Australia New Zealand contains useful information regarding labelling and labelling standards and food safety in Australia in general.

FSANZ Power point presentation/ pdf on labelling requirements for businesses

Frozen meals and chilled meals not for immediate consumption must bear full labels. This means batch coding, ingredient lists, a list of allergens/ warning statements, use-by-dates as well as a nutritional panel. FSANZ has developed a “Nutritional Panel Calculator” which can be used to design your own nutritional panel to go on labels. It is fairly easy to use and relies on a service entering in a recipe and ingredient list based on quantities.