The City of Cockburn has praised food businesses at Cockburn Gateway Shopping City where about half have completed training earning them FoodSafe® certification.
Cockburn Gateway is the first shopping centre in Australia to have multiple retailers awarded FoodSafe® certification since the training program was updated in 2016.
This month is Australian Food Safety Week 2020 (14-21 November) and the City is encouraging all food business owners and operators in Cockburn to take advantage of the free FoodSafe® food handler training program.
The program was developed by Environmental Health Australia for use by Local Government and food safety training organisations.
It helps food handlers meet food safety and hygiene standards to help prevent people from becoming sick from eating food, either by food poisoning or eating something they are allergic to.
Food handlers learn how to monitor temperatures, implement a cleaning schedule, monitor deliveries and rejected food, monitor premises maintenance and health of food handlers, and implement allergen control procedures.
In the City of Cockburn, once training is completed, an Environmental Health Officer as a FoodSafe® auditor, confirms outlets’ food handling practices are compliant, and ongoing audits by the business and the City confirms these standards are maintained.
City of Cockburn Environmental Health Manager Nick Jones said the training program could be completed online free of charge, by accessing the City’s website and utilising a discount voucher.
“The City hopes as many local food businesses as possible, like those at Cockburn Gateway, take advantage of this opportunity,” Mr Jones said.
“When food businesses look after the food they serve, they are looking after their customers and they’ll keep coming back.
“The FoodSafe® sticker and certificates indicate to the public that food premises have implemented food safety procedures and all their staff are trained to handle the food with care.
“Customers look for these stickers and vote with their feet, supporting those businesses maintaining the FoodSafe® standard.
“Congratulations to all those food premises that have achieved it. We look forward to many more implementing the program.”
Cockburn Gateway Shopping City manager Alexandra McAuliffe said the centre was really proud to be the first shopping centre in Australia to have multiple retailers awarded FoodSafe® certification.
“Our priority is always our customers’ and community’s health and wellbeing,” Ms McAuliffe said.
“Having our food and beverage retailers certified as FoodSafe® is important to us and our retailers.”
Environmental Health Australia (WA) President Vic Andrich congratulated the food businesses for proactively enhancing their food hygiene skills by completing their FoodSafe® certification, and encourages others to follow their example.
“It's fantastic to see local food businesses recognising the need for safe food and taking advantage of this training opportunity offered by Environmental Health Australia,” Mr Andrich said.
Cockburn Gateway Shopping City businesses that have implemented the FoodSafe program to date are:
- Boost Juice
- Grill’d
- Guzman Y Gomez
- Mikazuki
- San Churro Chocolateria
- Soul Origin
- Sushi Sushi
Several others, including Breadtop, Health Freak Cafe, Miss Maud, Muffin Break and Nando’s, are close to achieving their FoodSafe® certification.
For more information about how to complete the FoodSafe® certification, visit the City’s
website or ask to speak to the Environmental Health team on 9411 3444.