PHONE 0412 525 806 or (07) 5534 3951
FOOD SAFETY AUDITS
In most states licensed food businesses are required to have an approved Food Safety Program along with a Food Safety Audit each year to ensure they are following the correct procedures so food remains safe.
Food businesses with an independent Food Safety Program are required to have an annual third party Food Safety Audit to verify that businesses are complying with their Food Safety Program, the applicable Food Safety Standards, and the relevant State and local authority legislation.
A Food Safety Audit focuses on gathering information about a food business to identify any areas of potential improvement in the business’s food safety processes and systems. It also identifies areas of the business that have deficiencies and the appropriate action to correct any deficiencies.
Only auditors approved by Queensland Health, NSW Food Authority and Victorian Department of Health may audit licensed food businesses in these states for the purposes of the Act. Auditing Food Safety (Brisbane) provides a range of food safety auditing, consulting and training services to help your food business meet requirements and have been accredited to audit the following type of food businesses under these jurisdictions:
- Food Service operations including Restaurants & Takeaways
- Process/manufacture of food, or food service for Aged Care, Hospitals and Child Care facilities’
- Process/manufacture of food, or food service for Catering Operations (cook chill)
- Sale of food by wholesale or retail
- General processing/manufacture of food
- Processing/manufacture of ‘high-risk’ food
WHAT IS A FOOD SAFETY AUDIT?
An audit is a planned and formal process of gathering evidence to identify food safety and sanitation issues and provide comment on methods to improve procedures or employee behaviour to minimize risk and liability.
It is the process whereby a competent auditor gathers measurable, unbiased, information against set criteria to Acts and Standards, allowing you to assess and review the adherence of your Food Safety Program and assist in your continuous improvement program with regard to Food Safety.
The overall desired result of food establishment auditing is to prevent food-borne illness.
THE VALUE OF A FOOD SAFETY AUDIT IS CLEAR
Our clients benefit from regular food safety audits because we work to meet their unique needs, provide applicable solutions and develop partnerships that maintain the highest level of food safety and sanitation. Protecting their customers from food-borne illness protects their operation’s reputation and business.
BENEFITS OF FOOD SAFETY AUDITS
- Real-time assessment of process on a day-to-day basis
- Identifies gaps in systems and processes
- Fosters greater organisational communication
- Promotes sense of employee ownership
- Assists in building a strong food safety culture within an organisation
Prevents future problems - Provides opportunity to build on brand reputation
- Enhances a more profitable bottom line – where benefits out-weigh costs
OUR AUDITING SERVICES
Initial ‘Desk-top’ audit
Food Safety Programs (FSPs) must undergo a Desktop Audit by an Approved Food Safety Auditor, who writes an Advice Notice stating whether the Food Safety Program meets the requirements of the National and applicable State legislation, or not; and whether the Food Safety Program should be approved by Local Government, or not.
In many cases this can be done electronically and documentation confirming compliance, as issued by the auditor, will be required by the issuing authority prior to accreditation.
Food Safety Regulatory Compliance audit
A Food Safety compliance audit is conducted by an authorised auditor at least annually to determine whether the assigned Food safety program.
- Adequately addresses the hazards associated with the premises’ food handling operations and
- Whether the food business is complying with the program as accredited by their local authority or issuing agency
This process requires the auditor to visit the premises to view all processes and systems in place, and confirming that monitoring procedures are adequate and compliant to both the accredited program and applicable standards.
This audit will identify areas of non-compliance and/or observations to assist with continuous food safety improvements and assist employees understanding of food safety requirements.
On completion of the compliance audit, the auditor is required to submit a report to the issuing authority confirming compliance or not, and where a non-compliance has been identified, indicating any required corrective actions.
Prior to any compliance audit we will provide a comprehensive checklist detailing the process and to assist you with gathering relevant information and documentation to ensure a smooth and uncomplicated audit.
HACCP audit
We conduct regular HACCP compliance audits on behalf of regulatory and other authorised organisations, and in most cases utilising the documentation and various systems as offered by that particular organisation.
