Food safety legislation and regulation

Food Safety Act 1990

• covers the safe preparation, storage and serving food

• requires the registration of food businesses

• the CQC requires that care settings ensure that food is handled, stored, prepared and delivered in a way that meets the requirement of the act

impact of the Food Safety Act on care settings

• employees must maintain high standards of personal hygiene

• employees who prepare and serve food should be provided with training in food safety

• food should be stored correctly

• meals must be prepared, cooked and served hygienically and safely

• food provided must be safe to eat

• records must be kept of where food is from so that it is traceable

what can environmental health officers do?

• seize food that is thought to be unfit for consumption

• serve an improvement notice

• close premises causing a health risk

food safety general hygiene regulation 1992

• food safety hazards are identified

• settings should know which steps in their setting are critical for food safety

• safety controls must be in place, maintained and reviewed

• food handlers must wear PPE

• food handlers must be supervised or training in food hygiene to an appropriate level for their job

• the environment where food is prepared and cooked must be kept clean and in good condition

• requires adequate arrangements for storage and disposal of waste