Charities groups and volunteers

What is the NSW Food Authority doing to help charities that provide food?

The NSW Food Authority and NSW Government recognise the valuable work charities, organisations and volunteers do in providing or selling food for charitable purposes. This includes providing food free of charge during emergencies like bushfires or other natural disasters.

These activities cover the legion of volunteers who support organisations like the Rural Fire Service and State Emergency Service. To help make sure these organisations can continue their valuable work in the community, their special role has been recognised in our food regulations and certain exemptions may apply to their activities.

What if the charity provides food for free?

The regulations applying to commercial food businesses, including those which require notification and/or licensing, do not apply to anyone providing food free of charge.

Examples include:

• Making food for volunteer fire fighters during the bushfire season.
• A free sausage-sizzle for the junior soccer players.

Providing free food in these types of circumstances is not regulated by the Food Authority – nor does the Food Authority require notification or licensing.

What if the charity sells food for a fundraising event?

Anyone who sells food at a fundraising event for community or charitable causes is not required to notify the Food Authority, provided the food does not pose a possible health risk, or is eaten immediately after thorough cooking.

Examples include:

• School fetes where the proceeds are donated to a charitable organisation.
• A sausage-sizzle to raise funds for the junior soccer players club.
• A lamington drive to raise money for the victims of a natural disaster like the South-East Asian Tsunami.
• Selling chocolates to raise money for the Red Cross.

What about training for people preparing food?

People who are preparing food that is sold to raise money for charitable purposes do not require any formal skills or knowledge providing the food does not potentially pose a health risk, or is eaten immediately after thorough cooking.

Examples of food that could potentially pose a health risk:

• Cooking a large amount of a meat-based food that will be stored and transported prior to reheating and serving
• Ready to eat foods that would normally be refrigerated to keep them safe such as raw shellfish, cooked meats or cooked rice
• Dairy or egg based desserts

These sorts of meals have more potential for public health problems than a vegemite sandwich or pack of dried biscuits.

There are significant food safety issues, such as temperature control, cross-contamination and storage, that need to be considered by food handlers.

Further details on food safety courses can be obtained by contacting your local TAFE college.

What do volunteers need to know?

Food handlers should have knowledge and skills appropriate to the type of food they are preparing, particularly if it is potentially hazardous or is not going to be thoroughly cooked immediately prior to consumption.

For instance, a volunteer making vegemite sandwiches would not require any formal training.

Whereas a volunteer who was making a large number of hot meals with numerous ingredients would need to understand temperature control and how to avoid cross contamination. This is to protect public health.

So when does a charity need to notify the NSW Food Authority about fundraising events?

• Any organisation selling food for a community or charitable purpose needs to notify the Food Authority only if it is selling potentially hazardous food or food that is not thoroughly cooked immediately before consumption.
• Notification allows the Food Authority to trace the source of a possible foodborne illness outbreak to protect public health and make sure it doesn’t happen again.

What are the licensing requirements for organisations raising funds?

Only food businesses engaged in food activities which are regulated by a food safety scheme regulation under the Food Act 2003 need to be licensed. At present, food safety schemes regulate a range of activities relating to meat, seafood, dairy and plant products. With the exception of retail butchers, retail activities are not covered by food safety schemes. There are no other licensing requirements.

How does an organisation raising funds notify the Authority of a fundraising event?

Please phone theHelpline on 1300 552 406, or email contact@foodauthority.nsw.gov.au