500th store shows food safety savvy

An Otahuhu ethnic food store has become the 500th business to adopt the New Zealand Food Safety Authority’s (NZFSA) new food safety system.

Oasis Tan owner operator Suharjati Tan signed up for the off-the-peg Food Control Plan, which provides operators with a ready-written food safety management system, following an Auckland City Council food safety course in May.

He was joined by the nine other Otahuhu Ethnic Food Court operators, making the food court the first in the country with 100% participation in the new scheme.

The Hon. John Banks, Mayor of Auckland city and NZFSA’s chief executive Andrew McKenzie visited the food court today to present a plaque and a prize of $1000 advertising to Mr Tan.

“Oasis Tan was the business recognised as the 500th business to have a food control plan today, but all operators of the food court deserve recognition for making this group commitment to serve their community with the safest food possible,” says Dr McKenzie.

“This shows these operators are ready and willing to accept full responsibility for serving safe food, and I congratulate them and the others throughout the country for taking this step. I also commend Auckland City Council’s Environmental Health team who have been extremely proactive in promoting the benefits of Food Control Plans. This has resulted in over one third of the country’s registrants coming from Auckland city.”

The Food Control Plan identifies potential risks at each point of a food business’s operation, from receiving and storing goods to preparing, cooking and serving food, and contains procedures to keep food safe at each point. It aims to reduce New Zealand’s rate of foodborne illness, which is estimated to cost the country $86 million a year, mostly in lost productivity.

Consumers can easily identify a business with an approved Food Control Plan by the green ‘Serious about Food Safety’ sticker displayed in their window.

A list of the participating councils and businesses is on NZFSA’s website (www.nzfsa.govt.nz). Businesses wishing to adopt the off-the-peg Food Control Plan should contact their local council for advice.