Buying from small businesses

Firstly, thanks to OP for helping me with where to put my random question :)

So Im wondering what do you look for when buying from small businesses (fb businesses, wahm's, market stalls, etc)?

Do you look to see if they have an abn? Or the other govt registration things to make them a business? To certify their existence?
When buying food products do you look for the health and hygiene paperwork? The food safety certificate?

A while back DH and I were talking about this after me questioning the health and safety of some food related businesses that have popped up, a couple of which we know the people behind them. Anyway, dh mentioned that if you want to have a stall at the markets then you have to have the paperwork or you cant be covered for insurance reasons. He went on to say that in nsw the health inspector has to come and inspect where you intend of making the food, storing food and transportation, before you can be cleared for business. (obviously all dependent on what the food stuffs are) But I hadn't really thought about this before. Do you trust that these businesses make or store food and non-food product in a safe way?

Thanks :)

I know in Vic they have really strict guidelines for selling food at markets etc. The amount of paperwork and things you need to do while there is amazing.

One form alone is 20+ pages and that's just a sausage sizzle etc.

Someone also has to have a food handlers cert and with bigger functions someone has to have a higher cert (cannot think of it's name).

We have to have an ABN for our functions and be registered with the council.

If they are selling regularly they should have all these and the registration should be on display.

If you are unsure you can contact your council to find out if they are registered.

You know it's funny you post this. Recently on our local pages one seller has been spruiking on about how some sellers (cake makers mainly) are not meeting 'approved standards'....sadly for her it turns out they are and she looks silly. Here at the markets they're quite strict, however due to distance its unlikely I'll be buying handmade food online.

I have also not bought from a few fb pages lately because there appears to be no real business info, and that has made me a bit more suspicious of all possible online purchases lately. Ou just hear of so many people getting scammed.

A couple of markets in my local area are quite strict in needing to see food safety certificates before allowing food type businesses to have a stall, but then others are quite relaxed! It's the same with insurance, some need to view the paperwork, others don't seem to mind. I think a lot of people running small fb businesses and those attending markets could really come to grief if something were to go wrong. In reality they should all have an ABN, registered business name, public liability insurance,= and product insurance if they are making their own items.

In regards to food type businesses, I don't really buy from them often. And the few times I have, I didn't check they were working in an approved kitchen, it honestly didn't even cross my mind. It should have but I guess I was just trusting they would be doing the right thing.

I'm sure I've read somewhere too, that in the case of a cake stall, you don't need all food to have come from an approved kitchen?? Crazy! :)

I trust the old biddies selling their lemon curd outside the supermarket far more than I trust the pimply teenagers at McDonalds.
A small business owner has a personal investment in their food. The same can not be said for the employees of big business and with so many people in the supply chain of large businesses it is easy for foreign objects and sloppy handling to make their way without anybody noticing or caring.

No, the school cake stall doesn't have food from approved kitchens. It comes from the kitchens of Mums just like you and I love them. A home made cake that I didn't have to bake - lead me to it. I miss the Ginger sponges from my last school :(

I think it's kind of disturbing that people actually trust big business with their food/nutrition. I don't.

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I trust the old biddies selling their lemon curd outside the supermarket far more than I trust the pimply teenagers at McDonalds.
A small business owner has a personal investment in their food. The same can not be said for the employees of big business and with so many people in the supply chain of large businesses it is easy for foreign objects and sloppy handling to make their way without anybody noticing or caring.

No, the school cake stall doesn't have food from approved kitchens. It comes from the kitchens of Mums just like you and I love them. A home made cake that I didn't have to bake - lead me to it. I miss the Ginger sponges from my last school :(

I think it's kind of disturbing that people actually trust big business with their food/nutrition. I don't.

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Amen!

In SA, (where I am) it depends on your council etc..

I had to get certified with the local council, (inspect kitchen and work practices) I used to work out of a commercial kitchen so I didnt have to worry about it.
They come out and give you a list of stuff that you need to be up to standard on, then you pay a fee, they come back and inspect and make sure you tick all the boxes. They can also come and randomly inspect at any time.
The council also provides free of charge a food safety handling course (basic food prep stuff)
I'm not allowed to sell products with fresh cream, raw eggs or confectionary (different rules/standards etc)

I have an ABN, but not registered for GST as I don't make enough to justify it.
I don't have anything on my FB page or website to qualify any of this, but I know I'm covered!

I don't do markets as I can't justify the cost of the insurance for a food stall (most markets wont cover food stalls with their "umbrella" insurance") I also dont have any idea of how much I would make/lose in a market situation, I do ok without doing them. ;)

I judge the book by its cover! If I am purchasing from food vendors, I look at the cleanliness of the stall and of the people who staff it. I check out whether the food is cooked fresh or whether hot food sits around waiting for a buyer (I loathe food from a bain marie!). Cakes and bikkies need to be covered appropriately and the food itself should look fresh. I realise that I haven't seen the actual kitchen that some of this food has been prepared in, but I reckon the presentation at the point of sale is a decent indicator. I'm not terribly fussy about what I eat - I lived in Asia for years as a kid, where food handling procedures often leave a lot to be desired! I survived that, I figure I'll survive the local market.