Food safety
Our environmental health officers regularly inspect the city's food premises to ensure they follow hygienic food preparation and handling practices. They also provide food safety advice. Any infectious diseases are officially notified and thoroughly investigated to find the source of infection and measures put in place to prevent recurrences.
We adopted a new grading system (see 'About food grades' on the right-hand menu) for food premises in April, 2005. The grades are awarded after each annual inspection, according to the conditions and practices observed on the day.
We use a proven evaluation method to assess the state and maintenance of the premises, food handling and storage practices, cleanliness and staff training.
Our Basic Food Safety Course (see 'Food safety courses' on the right-hand menu) is designed to provide all food handlers with an overview of the principles of safe food production.
Some simple habits any food operator can establish to improve food safety include:
- using separate chopping boards for raw and cooked foods and adequately cleaning them to prevent cross contamination
- keeping fridge temperatures at a maximum temperature of four degrees Celsius (temperatures higher than this allow bacteria to flourish)
- properly covering food in fridges to prevent contamination, for example, raw meat juices spilling onto cold meats, cheese and vegetables
- storing hot food above 60 degrees Celsius.
Application forms
Application for transfer of licence of food premises 
(26KB)
Application for registration or licensing of food premises (25KB)
Application for regrading of food premises
Application for food saftey course Application for food saftey course (refresher)
Useful links
The New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology (NZIFST) website
Food Standards Australia New Zealand website
Food Standards Agency UK website
Partnership for Food Safety Education (fightbac.org) website
Auckland Regional Public Health Service website
New Zealand Food Safety Authority website
All application forms above are in Adobe PDF format. You will need Acrobat Reader to view the documents which can be downloaded free from www.adobe.com
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Environmental Health