Canteen rules & regulations..anyone in the know? (bit of a vent here)

[*Efjay*]

well its not fresh. I am pretty sure that bakers delight get rid of all the day old stuff. So its meant to be the day old stuff. Im not sure which Bakers delight she uses but there are only 2 locals ones. maybe I should just ring them & ask

[Marlene]

I don't think the canteen would be allowed to sell the Bakers Delight bread....Bakers Delight are not allowed to sell it to anyone, so i can't see that the school would be allowed to.
Also, I just wanted to add regarding "homemade" food....last year our school canteen was going to get parents to make muffins, etc for the canteen, but then all the parents that offered got phone calls notifying them that the school canteen is not allowed to see homemade foods (the cleanliness of home food preperation cannot be guaranteed). Not sure if that is a regulation for all schools or not.

[Trillian]

FJ, I would argue that you cannot guarantee the quality of the bread, even if it is knowingly day old bread and only used for toasting etc. It will cost them far more if there is a food poisoning outbreak from using it, not that its likely from bread, but that's not the point, you are knowingly giving children day old bread and some of the other parents might not like that kwim? I know I wouldn't pay for bread that was a day old and not advertised as such.

Marlene, with our cupcake day, all the cupcakes were made by parents and sent in with the kids. I know what you're getting at though, but I have no idea if they even thought of that.

[{sarah}]

Also, I just wanted to add regarding "homemade" food....last year our school canteen was going to get parents to make muffins, etc for the canteen, but then all the parents that offered got phone calls notifying them that the school canteen is not allowed to see homemade foods (the cleanliness of home food preperation cannot be guaranteed). Not sure if that is a regulation for all schools or not.

Yep that is part of the regulations, cleanliness & ingredients can't be guraranteed in a home kitchen so homemade things not allowed to be sold in the canteen.

[*Efjay*]

huh well the garlic bread is also made at home.... then frozen
ALSO the jelly isn't made onthe day, its made & stored....
ALSO the bread from bakers delight comes via another lady who collects it for her animals but said she rebags it before bringing it to the school as apprently we arenot meant to have it....

geese Im gonna stir some **** LOL

[Trillian]

Well that's a bit off then, because I'm sure Baker's Delight wouldn't be too impressed with that going on cause they could get in the poo for it too if anyone found out. Plus, if she's taking it, how can you be sure that it is being made into garlic bread in a reasonable time frame before it's completely stale?

[*Efjay*]

well apparently (& this is all third hand) she collects it for her animals (whihc is partly true) on a tuesday afternoon then puts it in her freezer and then takes out from that what the school needs.

Im gonna ring bakers delight & ask how the day old stuff is handled.

[Marlene]

FionaJill...sounds like a very dodgy canteen...I would definently be dobbing them in I think. I wouldn't want my child eating that bread...nothing wrong with day old bread at home...but to have it bagged and rebagged then frozen....and then have to PAY for it!! That just not on!!

[*Efjay*]

i rang bakers delight & that is all above board, it handled for human consuption as it could animal or human based chairties that it goes too & its common for bread to be donated to school canteens apparently. As long as its just bread though, nothing with fruit or cheese etc.
So dunno there. Just looking into the home made side of things
The canteen run purly for profit thats for sure.

[Trillian]

Canteens should never be run for profit, but as a service to the school IMO. If you do make money out of it, then that's super, but you can't run it as a business and have obvious cost cutting.

[mumofmany]

FionaJill.. just to add into this mix.

Legislation is changing/changed in reference to Food Safety Standards.

I'm a Food Safety Supervisor/Chef for a childcare centre, and whilst we are deemed a "vunerable population", the rules I must follow are ALOT more stringent than the canteen.

Having said that, the canteen MUST abide by 3.2.2 & 3.2.3 within the Australian New Zealand Food Standards Code.

Go to... Food Standards Australia New Zealand and you can download a copy of the code. I great thing for your friend who is the head honcho at canteen to have on hand to refer to often!

Also.. as per the NSW Food Authority

A food business is defined as any food preparation, food storage or food distribution activity which
handles food for sale. All food businesses must be ‘notified’ to the NSW Food Authority before they start operating and there are penalties for food businesses which are not properly notified. That means that the domestic kitchen as well as the school canteen must be notified to the Authority and both must comply with food safety standards generally.

Preparing food at home for sale in a canteen (or elsewhere) must also be approved by your local council. Some Councils may not approve home-based operations involving high risk foods. Remember, if the handling of food for sale in school canteens occurs in a domestic kitchen there are also special food safety issues to consider. These relate to kitchen design and construction, food handling and hygiene, product labelling and record keeping. The NSW Food Authority or your local
Council will be able to help you with this.

So.. nothing can come in from home prepared.. FULL STOP. this is legislation. No jelly cups, nothing.

With the frozen bread coming in, that is fine..

BUT

Under Standard 3.2.2 Food Safety Practices and General Requirements, food businesses are expected to take all practicable measures to ensure that they do not receive unsafe or unsuitable food. This means that they must make sure that the food they receive:

1. is protected from contamination;
2. can be identified while it is on the premises; and
3. is at the correct temperature when it arrives, if it is potentially hazardous.

Given you have no idea on the state that the lady who is freezing her bread keeps her kitchen in.. not a good idea. It all comes down the the particular council officer that inspects, and yours and their interpretation of the act/code. But, reciecing it like that is not a good idea.

If I was your friend.. as the head honcho.. i would approach Bakers Delight and ask them to supply you directly. That way you know the date of collection, and you can not that on the bags. You can ask Bakers Delight what Food Safety Programs they have in place.. or.. if they are HACCP approved? HACCP is a pretty high level of food safety to achieve. If they are HACCP approved, all you need to worry about is transportation from the shop to your storage facilities.

Also.. if they are this lax.. i would strongly suggest your friend does a food handlers audit and ensure that EVERY volunteer is up to date with the procedures that MUST be in place as a food handler. Most councils offer a 2hr free course to help her with that..

It seems over kill.. but... it is all in place to reduce potential cross contamination and illness.

If you have any questions regarding food safety, feel free to PM me..

[mumofmany]

FionaJill.. just to add into this mix.

Legislation is changing/changed in reference to Food Safety Standards.

I'm a Food Safety Supervisor/Chef for a childcare centre, and whilst we are deemed a "vunerable population", the rules I must follow are ALOT more stringent than the canteen.

Having said that, the canteen MUST abide by 3.2.2 & 3.2.3 within the Australian New Zealand Food Standards Code.

Go to... Food Standards Australia New Zealand and you can download a copy of the code. I great thing for your friend who is the head honcho at canteen to have on hand to refer to often!

Also.. as per the NSW Food Authority

A food business is defined as any food preparation, food storage or food distribution activity which
handles food for sale. All food businesses must be ?notified? to the NSW Food Authority before they start operating and there are penalties for food businesses which are not properly notified. That means that the domestic kitchen as well as the school canteen must be notified to the Authority and both must comply with food safety standards generally.

Preparing food at home for sale in a canteen (or elsewhere) must also be approved by your local council. Some Councils may not approve home-based operations involving high risk foods. Remember, if the handling of food for sale in school canteens occurs in a domestic kitchen there are also special food safety issues to consider. These relate to kitchen design and construction, food handling and hygiene, product labelling and record keeping. The NSW Food Authority or your local
Council will be able to help you with this.

So.. nothing can come in from home prepared.. FULL STOP. this is legislation. No jelly cups, nothing.

With the frozen bread coming in, that is fine..

BUT

Under Standard 3.2.2 Food Safety Practices and General Requirements, food businesses are expected to take all practicable measures to ensure that they do not receive unsafe or unsuitable food. This means that they must make sure that the food they receive:

1. is protected from contamination;
2. can be identified while it is on the premises; and
3. is at the correct temperature when it arrives, if it is potentially hazardous.

Given you have no idea on the state that the lady who is freezing her bread keeps her kitchen in.. not a good idea. It all comes down the the particular council officer that inspects, and yours and their interpretation of the act/code. But, reciecing it like that is not a good idea.

If I was your friend.. as the head honcho.. i would approach Bakers Delight and ask them to supply you directly. That way you know the date of collection, and you can not that on the bags. You can ask Bakers Delight what Food Safety Programs they have in place.. or.. if they are HACCP approved? HACCP is a pretty high level of food safety to achieve. If they are HACCP approved, all you need to worry about is transportation from the shop to your storage facilities.

Also.. if they are this lax.. i would strongly suggest your friend does a food handlers audit and ensure that EVERY volunteer is up to date with the procedures that MUST be in place as a food handler. Most councils offer a 2hr free course to help her with that..

It seems over kill.. but... it is all in place to reduce potential cross contamination and illness.

If you have any questions regarding food safety, feel free to PM me..

[Lulu]

I'd also have questions about her handling the food - rebagging the bread etc. Does she wear gloves?

[*Efjay*]

I doubt it but im sure If i asked her she would say she did.

[maz]

Bloody Nora!!!!!

this is why I dont go to meetings at school...they dont like hearing what 'real' mothers have to say...stupid and very much a popularity contest!

We dont have canteen at our school. The kids are allowed to have Subway once a week . 50 cents from each order goes to the school. The only option available is what flavour meet you'd like on your sub along with lettuce, tomatoe and cheese. Oh and only ONE cookie and orange/apple juice per student!

Good on you Fiona for taking a stand to this. I see 'treats' as something parents should give their children in a suppervised manor...not here's $5 and spend up on what ever sugar/ fatty shiat you can!

I hope you get through

[Inanna]

Well I haven't read all of the replies but I believe it to be mandatory here in Qld. (odd if Qld is ahead of other states! )

I think you should kindly but firmly push this barrow. I disagree that school canteens cannot be copletely run on healthy food choices. They can and in my opinion should be.
Food is fuel. If you put the bodgie stuff in you get bodgie stuff out.
Good food fuels much more efficiently. AND it's a way of showing kids that healthy food can be yummy.

My kids go to an Ananda Marga school - there is canteen once a week - it all has to be pre ordered. It's all vegetarian with no packaging. Packaging and packaged foods are not allowed at school. That means museli bars, mini yoghurts, cheese sticks etc.

The kids love tuckshop day. It's yummy, cheap and healthy. There are never any arguments because it's not an option.

I know governement based schools cannot have these rules but it has been my experience that the less crap, less packaging. Less arguments less problems.

Go the healthy school option FJ and do it firmly and Kindly and I feel sure you will rally support from other parents. Kids have lots of out of school time for crappy food - I say keep it out of schools!!!

[mrsmac]

FJ our canteed is "Diamond accredited" in the NSW canteen system, we have been the poster canteen for all the new rules so I will get whatever info I can from our canteen supervisor on Friday (we only have canteen 3 days per week) We had to get rid of licorice as it wasn't healthy!!!
I will also ask her who comes and checks on canteens etc and find out how a surprise visit to yours could happen LOL

[mrsmac]

FJ our canteed is "Diamond accredited" in the NSW canteen system, we have been the poster canteen for all the new rules so I will get whatever info I can from our canteen supervisor on Friday (we only have canteen 3 days per week) We had to get rid of licorice as it wasn't healthy!!!
I will also ask her who comes and checks on canteens etc and find out how a surprise visit to yours could happen LOL