Unannounced inspections – how do you rate?

Issue 35

The Food Authority implemented a verification program this year whereby each year, 10% of facilities in the vulnerable persons sector (audited by either Food Authority staff or third party auditors) are subject to unannounced inspections.

These inspections will focus on hygiene and processing operations to ensure that the processing of food is being conducted in a safe manner. Facilities should always ensure that:

• Production areas are maintained in a clean condition at all times
• Equipment (especially mixers, blenders and storage containers) are continually monitored for cleanliness and are fully dismantled for cleaning after use
• All product is labelled correctly
• Cooking and cooling records are maintained correctly.
   

In instances where issues are identified during an unannounced inspection, the Food Authority will conduct further unannounced inspections to ensure that effective long term controls have been implemented.

Management at these facilities are reminded that inspections can happen at any time and apart from being good business practice, facilities should continuously be maintained in an inspection ready state.