Role of the community in food safety
Reporting unsafe food
Members of the community should be well informed about food safety so that they do not buy or prepare food that is unsafe. They should be aware that they can tell the EHW or another council officer if they think a local food business is selling unsafe food, or is not storing, handling or displaying food safely.
Making complaints to council
Councils need to have a system for handling complaints about food quickly and effectively. Members of the community should be aware that the council has a role in making sure food is safe and suitable. For example, the community should be aware of:
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who in the council they should complain to
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how should they make their complaint (in writing, in person, etc.)
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whether the name of the person making the complaint is kept confidential (secret)
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what the Council does about complaints.
Community responsibilities
Members of the community need to take care with food before and after buying it.
Shopping for food
When people are shopping for food, they should:
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check the freshness of items (the use-by or expiry dates)
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check that packaging has not been opened or damaged, dented, soiled or gnawed by rodents
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take potentially hazardous food (meats, milk, seafood, cheeses etc) home as quickly as possible as leaving food in a car allows harmful bacteria to grow, especially on a hot day.
Storing food at home
After people get food home, they should:
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Put food that can go off (perishables) in the fridge or freezer straight away. Make sure the fridge is working and keeping food cold.
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Put other food in sealed undamaged containers that keep out disease carrying pests (rats, mice, cockroaches, flies).
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Put scraps and wrappings that can attract flies and other pests in a secure rubbish bin.
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Get rid of old food by putting it in a secure rubbish bin.
Preparing safe family meals
The World Health Organisation (WHO) outlines Five Keys to Safe Food:
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keep clean—wash hands and work surfaces, and keep out flies and other pests
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separate raw and cooked food—when preparing or storing food
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cook thoroughly—make sure food is properly cooked especially meat, chicken, seafood, and eggs.
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keep food at safe temperatures—either too hot or too cold for harmful bacteria to grow
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use safe water and raw materials
The Food Safety Information Council also has good information on this issue.
Preparing food for school lunches, picnics, or camping
When preparing food to be eaten later, people should take the same care as they do when preparing family meals. The following links offer good advice on preparing food that is to be eaten later:
Community education
Although EHWs are not required to monitor food health in people's homes, they can assist people keep their food safer by providing useful information and encouraging good hygiene habits.
A WHO poster on the Five Keys to Safe Food is available on the WHO website and would be useful for community education programs.
Some more ideas are listed in Community Awareness Campaigns.
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