Food+safety+legislation

//Due Monday Wk 8!! Special Study Theme: Compliance with Food Safety Legislation in Darwin Restaurants

Focus question Or Hypotheses: - To what extent do Darwin Restaurants obey the Food Safety Legislation?. Guiding question 1 - What are the Restaurants required to do under the NT Food Safety Law?. Guiding question 2 - How are these laws enforced in the Darwin area and what are the consequences for non-compliance?. Guiding question 3 - What are the most common Food Safety issues in Darwin Restaurants?.

Primary Research: Environmental Health Officer Questionnaire// //Secondary Research: NT Food Bill 2003 -Food and Safety Practices and General Requirements. Australian Legal Information Institute -// //[]// or

=**Introduction:**=

The Northern Territory has taken a more of a preventative approach towards the NT Food Safety Legislation. This approach is to reduce food-borne illness. To which the Northern Territory's reputation for clear and safe foods will enhance to provide businesses with food hat is safe and wholesome. All of the Northern Territory Food businesses are required to be registered under the legislation. The registration is free. this allow the Department to identify the risk factors of the business, and will help to provide the business with information about Food Safety. This also includes the help to identify the sources of the food-borne illness, recalls, target inspections and respond to complaints more quickly and effectively.
 * Intro:** //[]//

Darwin Restaurants are required that they for fill the stated requirements throughout the whole of the restaurants life. This will ensure a more safer and secure place where food is being bought, sold and consumed. These Food Acts, are in place because of these serious factored involving food. And will also protect the Restaurant and it's Owners from huge damage (money wise) and or harm (Customer food poisoning, trouble with the law etc).
 * Q1:**//NT Food Bill 2003 -Food and Safety Practices and General Requirements.//

[] That's why there are many in the NT who enforce these types of rules and regulations. There is the Chief Health Officer. The Chief Health officer has the measure to which the Regulations and Act of the 'Northern Territory Consolidated Acts' are followed and complied with by all restaurant owners and food handlers. -Through out the time span of a Restaurant, there will be random inspections from the Health Inspectors.
 * Q2:** **The Northern Territory Consolidated Acts.**


 * Q3:**

=**Body:**=

[] , [] Under the Northern Territory Food Safety Practices and General Requirements, for food businesses and also food handlers are set out in standard groups. If these requirements are obeyed this will ensure that the food will not become unsafe or unsuitable for consumers. This will ensure that the standard groups, targets the process control requirements, to be satisfied at every step of the food handling process.There are in total six divisions and two sub-divisions. Division one; Interpretation and Application, two; General requirements, three; Food Handling controls, four; Health and Hygiene Requirements.Sub-division one; Requirements for Food Handlers, two; Requirements for Food business. Divisions Five; Cleaning, sanitizing and maintenance, six; Miscellaneous.
 * Q1: Source : //NT Food Bill 2003 Food and Safety Practices and General Requirements// & Northern Territory Consolidated Acts, -** [],

One of the major risks in the food and hospitality business is the food handling and delivering. A food business must apply all measure to ensure the safety of the food to protect it from any possibly way of contamination. Especially potentially hazardous foods, they are required to be kept under temperature control. Potentially hazardous foods are foods that might hold food poisoning bacteria, which is capable of holding and support the growth of this type of bacteria. This might end in the formation of these toxins to levels which are unsafe for consumers. Potentially hazardous foods: raw and cooked meat, cooked rice and pasta, foods containing meats such as; lasagne or curries, dairy products, seafood, processed vegetables and fruits and foods containing eggs, beans, nuts and other protein rich foods. All Restaurants are required to check all temperatures with every delivery, the foods must be at 5°C or colder, or 60°C or hotter. The restaurant can refuse the delivery, if the food is not kept at the right tempurature.

[] [|http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nt/consol_act/fa57/s13.html] [|http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nt/consol_act/fa57/s14.html] [] If a restaurant does not comply with these requirements there are
 * Q2:** **Source:** **The Northern Territory Consolidated Acts.**

Here are some examples to show the penalties to whom who do not comply with the Food Act that is found on the 'Northern Territory Consolidated Acts'. In part 3, Section 12 of the Food Act:

//"A person must not handle food intended for sale in a manner that the person knows will render, or is likely to render, the food unsafe."//

Depending on person; a natural person the penalty for handling food in an unsafe manner will result in; 1,000 penalty units or imprisonment for two years. If the person is a body corporate the penalty is 5,000 penalty units. This is the same penalty if a person is found selling unsafe food and or giving a false description of food. But if a person if found Handling and selling of unsafe food the penalty, natural person; 500 penalty units or if the offender is a body corporate; 2,500 penalty units.

(A Quick Summary about Penalty Units. Penalty Units according to the Northern Territory Explanatory Statement 'Penalty Units Bill 2009'. One penalty unit has the cost of $130 AUD. But for each year which commences on the 1st of July the Minister must review the value for a penalty unit in accordance with the Darwin consumer price index, if the food prices go out, so does the Penalty Unit).


 * Q3:Source:**

=**Conclusions**:=


 * Questions:**

Occupation: Years of experience:

How well does Darwin Comply to the Food Safety Legislation?. How are these laws enforced and what are the consequences for non-compliance?. What are the most common Food and Safety issues in Darwin Restaurants?: How are they dealt with?: What actions are taken if the issues keeps on coming up?: What is the most serious offense in the Food Safety Legislation and what is the consequences?

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