Businesses in the Cessnock City Council area that sell, prepare, store and transport food need to comply with the food safety standards as specified in the Food Act 2003. This means that business owners and their staff are legally responsible for food safety, ensuring that the food they handle is fit for human consumption and does not cause food poisoning.

Council’s Environmental Health Officers are responsible for regularly inspecting all types of food establishments, to ensure that they are structurally sound, ensure compliance with the Food Act 2003 and to provide advice and information to business owners.

Complaints

All food borne illnesses are reported to the NSW Food Authority for statistical purposes and for tracking any outbreaks of illness. Complaints regarding illnesses can be reported to the NSW Food Authority Contact Centre on 1300 552 406.

Council’s Environmental Health Officers respond to consumer complaints about poor food hygiene and handling, contamination and food found to contain foreign objects. Complaints can be reported on 4993 4100.

Legislation, Guidelines and Codes of Practice

• Food Act 2003
• Food Regulation 2010 
• Food Standards – Food Standards Australia and New Zealand ensures safe food by developing effective food standards for Australia and New Zealand.
• Temporary Event Guidelines - Relating to the selling of food at a short-term event such as a fete from a temporary food premises.
• Requirements for the Establishment, Construction and Set up of Food Premises – Outlines the construction and fitout requirements for all new or altered or renovated food premises.

Education

Council is committed to providing food business operators and their staff with training opportunities and materials which will assist them to meet regulatory requirements, and to maintain high standards of food handling practices. 

Council’s Environmental Health Officers are currently in the process of distributing a new information package to all food premises throughout the Cessnock LGA.  These packages are aimed at reinforcing the principles outlined in the Food Standards Code, and concentrate on the issues of temperature control and cleanliness within food premises.  The package, which can be downloaded below, contains templates for recording cleaning of equipment, and also for monitoring temperatures of hot and cold food storage devices. We welcome your comments and feedback on these packages.  The feeback form below can be submitted online, or posted to Council.

• Temperature Control and Cleanliness Awareness Package
• Temperature Control and Cleanliness Awareness Package Feedback Form