The Government has launched another free online food safety course in a bid to cut training costs for thousands of hospitality businesses.
Minister for Food Safety, Andrew Hoggard said food safety training can cost food businesses between $50 and $200 per staff member, so making free resources available puts money back in the till.
“This kind of training for food business provides an important line of defence for consumers and is a good investment in preventing foodborne illness,” said Mr Hoggard.
“The first of six Food Safety Basics training modules was launched back in May and it was well received by food business. Today we’ve launched the second module, focusing on personal hygiene.”
The new module covers why personal hygiene is essential for anyone working with food and how everyday habits can protect customers from foodborne illnesses.
The full series of modules – developed with input from the Restaurant Association, Hospitality NZ, restaurants, cafes and local authorities – will all be published online by early next year.
The remaining modules will cover maintaining a food safe workplace, handling food safely, allergens, and traceability and recalls.
“Providing this free training is part of an ongoing series of practical changes to make food safety simpler and smarter for food businesses of every size,” said the Minister.
