New Food Safety Standard

Food Standards Australia New Zealand and the Australian National University in 2022 estimated there are 4.67 million cases of foodborne illnesses in Australia each year that resulted in 47,900 hospitalisations and 38 deaths.

If you own or manage a food business, a new, stricter food safety standard will come into effect 8 December 2023 — Standard 3.2.2A Food Safety Management Tools. Standard 3.2.2A is an extension of the Standard 3.2.2 Food Safety Requirements in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code), for food businesses identified as a Category One or Two that engage in high-risk food handling activities, which aims to improve food safety. The Standard applies to the vast majority of food service and food retail businesses, such as restaurants, cafés, pubs, hotels with table service, takeaway and smorgasbords; supermarkets and delis; takeaway shops, mobile food vendors and juice bars; hospitals, aged care facilities and childcare centres.

Restaurants and cafés are classified as a Category One Business and as such must implement all three Food Safety Management Tools to strengthen their management of hazards known to contribute to foodborne illness. These standards provide a risk-based, preventative approach to providing safe and suitable food which is based on the principle that food safety is best ensured by implementing food hygiene controls at each stage of food handling and implementation of additional risk management tools.

The newly released Pro-Visual AR Interactive – Restaurant & Café Guide to Managing Workplace & Food Safety 2023/24 produced in conjunction with Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), Food Safety Information Council (FSIC) and the NSCA Foundation features guidance on the new Standard 3.2.2A and Food Safety Management Tools Fact Sheets to assist businesses to implement all three Food Safety Management Tools based on food handling activities, in addition to existing obligations. The three tools are food safety supervisor, mandatory food handler training and substantiation of critical food safety controls.

Designed to be displayed to provide skills and knowledge for Food Safety and Food Handler Training the AR Interactive – Restaurant & Café Guide to Managing Workplace & Food Safety 2023/24 is developed with interactive augmented reality (AR) capabilities for use with a smart device, by simply downloading the free Pro-Vis AR Safety App via the App Store or Google Play, available via free subscription at www.provisual.com.au.

Together Pro-Visual Publishing, in consultation with FSANZ and FSIC have carefully selected additional food safety topics following in-depth sector feedback which includes:

Cross-Contamination of Food Control Measures & Stock Rotation Food Safety Procedures

Downloadable resources via the free Pro-Vis AR Safety App include:

• Food Safety Information Council (FSIC) Cross-Contamination & Fridge Food Safety Videos
• How you cook can make you and others crook Poster.

Food Poisoning Bacteria — Reducing the risk of contamination through pathogens such as Salmonella, Campylobacter and E.Coli

Downloadable resources via the free Pro-Vis AR Safety App include:

• Food Safety Information Council (FSIC) Food Poisoning Video
• Is it done yet? How to use a food thermometer
• Listen to Celebrity Chef Fast Ed Halmagyi provide advice about how to use a food thermometer and safe cooking temperatures.

The first step in creating a safe environment for workers is to implement a Safe Manual Handling Training Program focused on Food Safety. Download the free Pro-Vis AR Safety App to view Manual Handling Animation and 6 Guided Steps to Safe Lifting Checklist.

Cuts and Lacerations Safe Work Procedures

Download the free Pro-Vis AR Safety App to view Knives and Sharp Tools Safety Checklist and the following training resources:

• WorkSafeBC Kitchen Safety: Preventing Cuts from Knives Video
• Home of Training How to prevent cuts and lacerations Video
• St John Ambulance How to Treat Cuts and Grazes – First Aid Training Video

Pro-Visual Publishing, CEO, John Hutchings states, “The success of the AR Interactive – Restaurant & Café Guide to Managing Workplace & Food Safety 2023/24 cannot be achieved without the collective feedback and support from Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), Food Safety Information Council (FSIC) and corporate sponsors in promoting new Food Safety Requirements Standard 3.2.2A with the aim to lower the incidence of foodborne illness.

“The free Pro-Vis AR Safety App addresses what the user needs to know about food safety and provides concise factual information to ensure compliance with food safety laws and to provide the food service industry with information on how cross contamination occurs and safe work practices which can prevent it.”

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