Greater Dandenong City Council’s newsletter for the Food Industry
Spring Edition 2020
How the food industry can survive “Experience is not what happens to a man; it is what a man does with what happens to him.” – Writer and philosopher Aldous Huxley
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Now we have moved into spring we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, the sun is warmer and we can leave what seemed like the longest and coldest winter behind us. Now the Victorian Government has announced the ‘Roadmap to Reopening’ we have some deadlines to work with. We can dust off the past, start to clean up to prepare to open for a new season and even re-invent ourselves. Click here to find out more about industry restrictions and requirements for opening.
Follow these links to find out more about COVID-19 business grants:
Click here for information about the Commercial Tenancy Relief Scheme, which has been developed to help alleviate financial hardship faced by tenants and landlords.
Click on the link for more about the Federal Government’s economic support package for businesses and workers. Federal Government’s economic support package
COVID-19 Grants Australian Taxation Office – GST and grants
The Government’s economic support package
Food safety news Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) have released the following information relating to the Coronavirus. Key points: • There is no evidence that COVID-19 is transmitted through food • Maintaining good hygiene practices is recommended • Stay home if you are sick, don’t attend the workplace and get tested if you have COVID-19 symptoms • Businesses need to follow any social distancing requirements requested by the Australian Government. Food production and supply is considered an essential service. FSANZ is working with all relevant government departments and health authorities to ensure the most up to date information is available on their website for consumers, those working in the food industry, and charities, groups and volunteers donating food. Click here for more information
Click here for the latest news on COVID-19 from the Australian Government Department of Health. According to the World Health Organisation to date there has been no evidence the corona virus can be spread via packaging. Click here for more information Click here for the latest Department of Health and Human Services’ food safety information, including media releases from FSANZ.
Food trading ideas Council have conducted some research in finding out how others in food business are being creative and managing to survive.
Here are some top ideas: • create your own delivery app to avoid the huge commission of delivery companies • apply here (free of charge) to register your business, this site allows customers to purchase gift cards to give you some income now • freeze meals and sell as a weekly pack • reduce your menu, create a signature dish that can be your speciality •
rent your kitchen to small operators, this will require trust if they use your food registration, the safest solution is for them to apply for their own food registration, you’ll need to maybe look at lockable storage if the food businesses need to keep food onsite.
Raw egg in ready to eat foods Raw egg products are ready-to-eat foods that contain raw egg and have not been processed to reduce bacteria levels to safe levels. This includes foods that contain raw egg and are not heated to 75 °C or equivalent when undergoing a light cooking process, such as raw egg butter, hollandaise sauce, dressings, creams, tiramisu, mousse, smoothies, or fried ice cream. Although it’s not yet illegal to use raw egg in ready to eat foods it is highly advisable to use pasteurised raw egg. Click here for more information
Nutritional panel calculator
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With many businesses turning to other markets a new nutritional panel calculator is now being developed by FSANZ to help food manufacturers easily calculate their food’s nutrients. It should be up and running soon.
Great Bites The Great Bites booklet has been a staple in the Greater Dandenong community for many years, listing places to eat across our municipality. The Greater Dandenong Business team has introduced the Great Bites Open for Business campaign with an online listing of businesses who are still operating during COVID-19 restrictions. To submit your business listing visit Great Bites
How to dispose of PPE from workplaces The government advises Victorian workplaces to use a COVIDSafe Plan. For workplaces which are not high-risk industries, (description of high-risk industries in the link below), place disposable PPE in a tied-off bag and in your general waste bin. Don’t place PPE in any recycling bins. Click here for more information
On-site and off-site food safety assessments Depending on the risks and urgency, Environmental Health Officers are still conducting inspections, assessing new premises and investigating complaints. Officer will be wearing masks and practicing physical distancing in assessing the immediate risks to help reduce potential food contamination problems. The assessments will include some of the following items: • whether your food is bought from a registered food business • if you and your staff have a good understanding of food safety including good hygiene and temperature control
• a check of any labelling requirements • allergens will also be discussed. Environmental Health Officers will also be available for advice regarding upgrading the kitchen, changing food processes or food safety supervisor, a potential food poisoning or other health risk please contact them on 8571 1000. Please note: Each time a new food safety supervisor is employed their training certificates must be sent to Council. Please refer to this Department of Health and Human Services website, click here for further information
• if Council has the latest food safety supervisor’s certificate of training • a check through the food processes conducted including any specialist processes such as sous vide, kebabs, sushi, raw egg ready to eat foods, vacuumed foods (known as modified atmosphere packaging) • a check of cleaning and sanitising knowledge • a check of safe storage of food practices including the temperatures • a check of the food safety program and records • if there is a delivery vehicle - it’s suitability regarding temperature control, cleanliness and condition
For COVID-19 enquiries such as social distancing, numbers of people in your business, how far you can deliver food etc. please phone 1800 675 398.