Food-handling plan makes for safer eating

The region's councils are getting on board to help make food safer in restaurants and cafes.

Since May 2003, the New Zealand Food Safety Association has been pushing to have the Food Act updated – which hadn't been changed for 30 years – and it has strong support.

Manawatu, Rangitikei, Horowhenua, Tararua and Palmerston North councils have set aside funding to put in place the new Food Control Plan and diary.

To date, 68 of the country's 73 councils have signed up.

A domestic food review was held to assess problems associated with New Zealand's food-handling regime, which was found to be outdated and inconsistent.

With an estimated $86 million spent on foodborne illnesses every year, there was a need to change the old model to a more risk-based approach system.

Manawatu District Council principal environmental officer Colin Perrin said the main change was responsibility.

"Under the current food hygiene regulations the inspector visits and checks food hygiene issues, usually from a checklist and tells the food operator if there are any issues. The Food Control Plan requires the food operator to produce a plan for his or her operation and assess the risks, they then tailor the Food Control Plan to their operation, and they are audited by council to check they are following the plan," Mr Perrin said.

He said the council became involved in the scheme to assist in its implementation.

"It's a voluntary scheme at this stage but we thought we would get involved in the early stages before it became compulsory.

"The funding available is to help assist with the certifying, training and implementation costs associated with the legislation."

The council has set aside $37,000 as part of its draft annual plan for 2010-2011 and the other councils in the area have also set money aside.

So far the Manawatu District Council has had seven restaurants and cafes sign up, including Feilding's Essence Cafe and Bar.

Owner David Scott said the new system was a useful tool.

"It is a lot of extra work in comparison to what we had before but it's a good scheme. Everything you do gets written down so you are always accountable and you can find out what happened on what day," Mr Scott said. "I still think there is a lot of work that needs to be done on it, though."

Mr Perrin said that although the Government had agreed at the end of last year to the revised Food Bill, it was unlikely the scheme would be compulsorily implemented nationwide before 2011.

- © Fairfax NZ News