How Obtaining a Food Handling Certificate Could Save Australia Billions

Across Australia today, the food industry represents a vital segment of the national economy. In fact, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT): “Food accounts for 46% of all retailing turnover in Australia, with total food and liquor retail spending in 2006-2006 rising to $106.6 billion”. This increase of retail spending amounts to an astounding 8% increase from the previous year, and the upward trend is likely to continue in the coming years. These figures can be juxtaposed with the fact that there are approximately 5.4 billion cases of food-borne illness in Australia every year. Due to food borne illness, in any given year, 18,000 Australians are sent to hospital, 300,000 prescriptions for antibiotics are filled, 2.1 million days of work are lost, and 120 Australians die. Illness caused by the ill preparation and treatment of food products results not only in significant human costs, but poses an incredible burden on the healthcare system. Thus, it is vital to ensure all staff that handles food products obtains the needed training and possess a food handling certificate.

The significance of the Food Industry to the Australian Economy does not stop at domestic consumption; exports make up a consistently large part of food revenue. Although weather conditions and international competition have slightly slowed down export trade, 2002 exports were valued at $30.8 billion, of which meat and grains make up the majority. Given that other countries can produce food exports at a lower cost, due to cheaper labor and less costly health and safety regulations, Australia has relied on the production and export of superior products to maintain its markets abroad. The largest export markets are Japan and the United States, with increasing exports to the United Kingdom and Pacific Rim Countries. Thus, Australia’s international reputation for exporting safe, quality food products should be protected at all costs, as any damage to this reputation threatens all future exports.

For example, should there be an outbreak of food borne illness in the United States that was traced to an Australian product, the entire North American market could be threatened. If there is a serious dip in the available export markets that may come from food borne illness, millions of jobs and livelihoods are put at risk. To protect Australia’s interests, national and regional standards for health and safety have been established. These standards require the passing of a course in food safety resulting in a food handling certificate.

Most countries in today’s interconnected global economy have certain National standards for food safety, and Australia is no exception. A significant amount of time and effort was put into developing courses that supply vital information to Australians working in the preparation, packaging, or delivery of food. It is not the job of the education system to train students in food preparation and the risks associated with failure to abide by health and safety rules, rather courses have been developed for this specific purpose. Obtaining a food handling certificate is vital in all industries that deal with food products in any way. Due to the importance of food training, courses can be found that satisfy both National and Regional health standards. Given the differing responsibilities of employees and managers, various food-handling courses with specialised training have been developed. This ensures that the food handling certificate obtained is relevant to ones position and role in the food industry.

Australia’s food industry has been shown to be vital to the larger economic health of the nation as a whole. Jeopardising international and domestic markets with faulty handling off food resulting in food borne illness is a blow Australia’s economy cannot take. Thus, employees who work with food products at any stage should obtain training in the safe handling of food, culminating in the receiving of a food handling certificate. This training not only protects the employee but the manager, domestic consumers, foreign consumers, and the economy as a whole.

About the Author

Food workers in Australia should hold a food handling certificate. We provide industry focused of certification depending on your type of food service (retail and hospitality, health and community service, or food processing) along with two levels of training to accommodate the entry level employee and those moving into a supervisory role. Obtain nationally recognised certification with one of our online, correspondence, or in house courses.

Author (Nick). Submitted on Mon, 19 Dec 2011 Time: 5:41 AM

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