Back to: Food Handler Basics Training
NSW Food Authority | Food handler Basics
Food poisoning is an illness caused by eating contaminated food.
The most common cause of food poisoning is eating food contaminated by bacteria – a type of microorganism found in soil, and on animals and people.
Maintaining good personal hygiene helps prevent contamination of food with harmful bacteria.
Learning Outcomes
We will demonstrate how and when to wash your hands. You will be able to describe good personal hygiene practices for food handlers.
You will be able to explain the harm of:
- Smoking near food
- Handling food when unwell
- Not being clean
- Not washing hands often and thoroughly
- Not wearing clean clothes and showering daily
Working with food means you are responsible for practising good personal hygiene.
It’s very easy for your hands, clothing, nails. hair and jewellery to contaminate food or a food preparation surface.
Good personal hygiene means making sure you are clean, wearing clean clothing and washing your hands thoroughly and often.
Good personal hygiene
Food contamination is when bacteria, dust, dirt or other unwanted substances are added to food. Good personal hygiene means making sure you, your clothing and accessories are clean to prevent contamination.
Washing your hands
When handling food you must wash your hands regularly and thoroughly.
Hands should be washed in the hand washing sink and not in the dishwashing or food preparation sink.
Thoroughly wash and dry your hands after:
Wearing gloves
Always change your gloves:
- Between handling ready-to-eat and raw food
- If the gloves tear
- Between different tasks
- After taking out rubbish
- After touching money
Smoking and vaping
You must not smoke when handling food. Ash, cigarette butts and smoke can all contaminate food.
When you smoke, harmful bacteria pass from your mouth to your hands, and then to the food.
Smoking is banned in all dining areas across Australia – this covers restaurants, cafes, takeaway shops, pubs and in other licensed premises.
You are not allowed to smoke or vape where food is:
- Received
- Stored
- Prepared
- Served
- Transported
- Eaten
Take off your apron if you smoke and make sure you wash your hands thoroughly before retuning to work.
Feeling unwell
There are many reasons why a food handler might decide to go to work, or stay at work, when they are feeling unwell. No reason is important enough to risk infecting customers or colleagues with whatever illness you have.
If you are unwell stay home or go home.
Symptoms of illness
© State of New South Wales through the NSW Food Authority www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au
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