New World Prepares for Food Safety Audit

It's got to be perfect!

Ross McKinnon, Food Safety Compliance manager at Stokes Valley New World says that their store is just about ready for a Ministry of Health Food Safety Audit which is to be conducted in April of this year.

Staff have been twelve months in preparation for the audit. According to Ross McKinnon, Stokes Valley New World has always been in full compliance, but many procedures need to be formalised. Staff training in food safety and hygiene has taken place and will continue as part of the everyday staff and store management programme.

The audit will check Stokes Valley New World's Food Safety Programme and approve it if all hygiene and food safety protocols are effective and up-to-scratch. Among the matters audited will be

• the supermarket's ability to identify and control potential food hazards,
• whether all suppliers of stock are up to approved standards,
• whether temperature and cleaning records are being kept satisfactorily,
• staff training and the provision of hygienic protective clothing etc for staff who handle food,
• maintenance of equipment and buildings.

In fact, the supermarket's Store Procedures Manual already addresses all the matters to be examined under during the audit. Both the Manual, and the audit conform to guidelines set forth by the Food Safety Amendment Act (No.2) of 1996. Under this act, the food safety programmes of stores will be examined for approval by audit. Once they are, stores become exempt from the Food Hygiene Regulations Act of 1974.