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NSW Food Authority Releases COVID-19 Guidance for Food Businesses

The NSW Food Authority emailed food businesses throughout the state with guidance on how to navigate the COVID-19 crisis.
The NSW Food Authority emailed food businesses throughout the state with guidance on how to navigate the COVID-19 crisis.

March 26, 2020 - The NSW Food Authority emailed food businesses throughout the state today with guidance on how to navigate the COVID-19 crisis.

The published information outlines the food safety impacts of COVID-19, workforce impacts of the pandemic and measures that food businesses can take to protect the workforce.

Key Points

Key points that the food authority shared include:

  • COVID-19 is not a food-borne disease
  • Businesses need to review their operations and consider what other measures should be implemented to reduce the impact of COVID-19
  • Businesses with good preparations and procedures in place can minimise the impact of an employee diagnosed with COVID-19

From a food safety perspective, key takeaways were that all food workers must practise frequent hand washing and that strict requirements about health and hygiene need to be enforced. Thorough cleaning and sanitising was also highlighted — including the need to sanitise more items than normal including door handles, light switches, floors and walls.

Workforce Protection

The information provided by the NSW Food Authority is heavily focused on protecting the workforce. Guidance was explained in detail and includes:

  • Reviewing the health status of staff and ensuring they don’t work while sick
  • The importance of good hand hygiene
  • Increasing time between shifts or service periods
  • Limiting the number of people who come into contact with each other in the workplace
  • Reviewing customer entry points and interactions to ensure social distancing
  • Reviewing staff roles and points of contact
  • Having staff get flu shots
  • Reassuring staff where possible

Other Information

NSW Food Authority also provided useful information on dealing with sick customers and sick employees (including those waiting on COVID-19 tests and those confirmed to have COVID-19), and changes that will be made to audits and inspections during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Visit the NSW Health Authority website for more information and to read the guidelines in full.