Food safety

Recent changes to the Food Standards Code have introduced new requirements for all businesses that prepare and serve food in NSW.

We work closely with hundreds of food business trading across Lake Macquarie to minimise the risk of food-borne illness by promoting a high standard of safety. We are responsible for inspecting, educating and regulating retail food businesses operating in the City.

Council plays an important role in food regulation and promoting safe food handling practices. We regularly inspect premises where food is served. Our role includes:

  • conducting regular inspections of food premises
  • conducting food and hygiene seminars
  • following up complaints from our community

Unannounced inspections by Council are designed to assess compliance with the Food Act 2003 and food safety standards, including:

  • ensuring that food is being handled and produced hygienically and will be safe to eat
  • minimising the potential risk of food poisoning
  • ensuring that business operators and food handlers have appropriate skills and knowledge in food safety and food hygiene
  • assessing the condition and cleanliness of premises, equipment and appliances

Annual food inspections

Council's Environmental Health Officers regulate businesses through mandatory annual inspections, follow-up inspections for poorly performing businesses and targeted inspections for specific business sectors. Fees are charged for these inspections.

The Food Inspection Program aims to ensure retail food businesses understand and meet the requirements expected of them. It also helps Council assess if business have the skills and knowledge to manage risk.

Environmental Health Officers assess the premises, its equipment and facilities to ensure they are appropriate and are in a fit condition to carry out the activities required and maintain necessary hygiene and food safety standards. 

Our Environmental Health Officers also train, educate, monitor, support the development of control systems and issue notices and fines. We work closely with the NSW Food Authority to inform the community of businesses that have been fined by publicising their details on the offences (name and shame) registers.

The Food premises Design, construction and fit-out guide(PDF, 4MB) provides information for fixed food premises.  

Build skills and knowledge for your food business

Food Handler Basics training | NSW Food Authority is a free, non-accredited online food safety training program provided to food businesses operating in NSW.

Participants work through 7 food safe handling modules, and an assessment at the end. Those who achieve a score of 100% can receive a certificate of acknowledgement.

The program has been created by the NSW Food Authority and includes the basic food safety principles required to run a safe food business in conjunction with the demonstration of safe food handling skills at the food premises.