The food truck trend has gathered serious momentum over the last decade. So much so that the Australian Mobile Food Vendors Group estimates that there are currently more than 5,000 food trucks in operation throughout Australia.
To protect their growing customer base, it’s imperative that food truck operators adhere to the stringent food safety regulations put in place by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). Professional training programs are an essential piece of the compliance puzzle.
In this blog, we’ll cover the critical components of the Food Safety Supervisor course for food truck operators, providing an overview of course content and how it can be applied to real-life situations to ensure legal compliance.
What Is a Food Safety Supervisor?
A Food Safety Supervisor working in a food truck is responsible for overseeing the preparation and handling of all food being served to customers. It’s a pivotal role that serves as the contact point for all internal and external food safety matters, with regular collaboration required with coworkers and local authorities alike.
Additionally, this individual will train and supervise food handling staff to ensure that strict food safety protocols are adhered to at all times in order to prevent contamination, food-borne illnesses and Food Standards Code violations.
To support the work they do, Food Safety Supervisors must also implement a Food Safety Program based on Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) principles, maintaining accurate records and undertaking corrective actions as required.
What Is the Law Regarding Food Safety Supervisor Training?
FSANZ Standard 3.2.2A is a newly established regulation that aims to enhance food safety through Food Handler training, food safety supervision and record management.
One of the most significant elements of Standard 3.2.2A is the requirement for businesses to appoint at least one designated Food Safety Supervisor to monitor food safety procedures in the workplace. This rule applies to all businesses that prepare, serve or deliver food in Australia.
Should Food Truck Operators Be Trained in Food Safety?
Standard 3.2.2A sets consistent food safety regulations that apply to food truck operators in the same way they do for other retail sector establishments. As Category 2 businesses, food trucks are required to satisfy the established training requirements for both Food Handlers and Food Safety Supervisors.
Who Needs Food Safety Supervisor Training?
All individuals nominated by their business to become a designated Food Safety Supervisor must complete a government-approved training program. This person can be the owner, a manager or a regular employee, as long as they are available to oversee food handling activity on a consistent basis.
When choosing a candidate for the role of Food Safety Supervisor, you be on the lookout for the following:
- Existing food safety knowledge
- Practical application
- Leadership skills
- Commitment to compliance
- Communication skills
- Commitment to continuous learning
Do Food Handlers in Food Trucks Need to Be Trained?
Although they aren’t required to participate in a Food Safety Supervisor course, all food handling staff working in food trucks must instead undergo government-approved Food Handler training in order to comply with Standard 3.2.2A.
The Food Safety Supervisor Course
Food Safety First provides a comprehensive training program designed to cover all aspects of food safety supervision outlined in Standard 3.2.2A. The objective is to give individuals the knowledge and skills needed to effectively manage food safety procedures in their workplace.
Learning Activities
The Food Safety Supervisor course features a series of interactive lessons followed by various assessment activities. The curriculum includes the following topics:
- Time & Temperature Control
- Serving Food Safely
- Personal Hygiene & Workplace Behaviour
- Identifying Food Safety Hazards
- Receiving & Storing Food
- Cleaning & Sanitising
- Monitoring, Controlling & Correcting Food Safety Hazards
- Illness & Onsite Injuries
- Reporting, Investigating & Recording Food Safety Breaches
- Food Contamination & High-Risk Groups
- Food Safety Programs
- Maintaining Food Premises
- Hand Washing
- Biological Contamination
- Other Types of Contamination
- Allergen Management
- Working with Food Safely
- Food Safety Management
- Food Safety Laws & Responsibilities
Each of these learning modules is followed by a multiple choice quiz to test your knowledge. You must score 100 percent in order to move onto the next module.
Units of Competency
When devising the curriculum, Food Safety First incorporates the relevant units of competency. These standardised skill and knowledge requirements are part of the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) and are used to define learning objectives and assessment criteria for particular occupations.
Only one unit of competency is required for food truck operators – SIRRFSA001 (Handle food safely in a retail environment).
This unit establishes the required standards for the following tasks:
- Cleaning and sanitising: Effective techniques for preventing contamination (focus on food contact surfaces and equipment).
- Food storage: Safe storage procedures (including stock rotation and temperature control).
- Food handling: Hygienic food handling practices (emphasis on personal hygiene).
Statement of Attainment
After successfully completing all lessons and assessment activities, students are awarded a nationally recognised Statement of Attainment. This document lists all units of competency that have been achieved -- for food truck operators, this will be SIRRFSA001 (Handle food safely in a retail environment).
When Does A Statement of Attainment Expire?
A Statement of Attainment is valid for five years and must be renewed prior to expiry in order to maintain your status as a certified Food Safety Supervisor. Without certification, your business could be penalised for failing to comply with the requirements of Standard 3.2.2A.
How Does Food Safety Supervisor Training Support Food Truck Operators?
Knowledge acquired from the Food Safety Supervisor course can easily be applied to the day-to-day operation of a food truck. Here are three key examples:
1. Personal Hygiene
High personal hygiene standards are essential for ensuring food safety. In order to prevent contamination and food-borne illnesses, food truck staff must employ thorough hand washing techniques and wear appropriate clothing and personal protective equipment when handling food. They should also avoid food handling tasks altogether when sick to stop illnesses from spreading.
Establishing a strict personal hygiene regime not only contributes to a safe food handling environment, but it also gives customers another reason to choose your establishment over others due to the confidence they have in your staff hygiene practices.
2. HACCP Principles
The Food Safety Supervisor course includes information that will enable food truck operators to apply the basic principles of HACCP on a daily basis. HACCP is a standardised approach to food safety helps food truck operators do the following:
- Establish a monitoring process that ensures the safe handling of food.
- Identify potential food safety hazards caused by improper food storage or handling.
- Implement Critical Control Points (CCPs) and critical limits to prevent food-borne illnesses.
- Initiate Corrective Actions to address deviations from critical limits.
- Create verification procedures to confirm the effectiveness of the Food Safety Plan.
The HACCP system is the foundation for a robust food safety strategy that can reduce the risk of food contamination and food-borne illnesses.
3. Safe Food Storage
The Food Safety Supervisor course educates food truck operators in the fundamentals of safe food storage so that they can select the correct storage methods and preserve food safety. These methods include:
- Temperature control
- Segregation of raw and cooked foods
- Accurate labelling and date info
- First In, First Out (FIFO) storage procedures
By incorporating these techniques, businesses can help prevent food spoilage, contamination and food-borne illnesses.
How Easy Is It to Complete the Food Safety Supervisor Course?
Food Safety First offers an online Food Safety Supervisor course making it easier than ever to obtain certification. Not only is it a convenient learning platform, but it also takes away some of the pressure of in-person assessment.
All of the course materials can be accessed 24 hours a day via the student portal and the curriculum itself is broken up into sections featuring multiple choice quizzes that can be reattempted up to five times. The only practical activity that must be completed is the Observer Report – this part is designed to assess tasks such as hand washing in a real-life environment.
There’s no need to rush. Although the course can be completed in just a few hours, students can also choose to spread their learning over several months if they want to take their time.
Start Your Training Today
The success of your food truck business relies on the effective implementation of thorough food safety procedures. The Food Safety Supervisor course is designed to help you:
- Preserve the health and well-being of consumers.
- Protect your business’s reputation.
- Comply with Standard 3.2.2A.
Register with Food Safety First today to take the next step toward certification or get in touch to find out more about the course.
Important Links
Food Safety Supervisor Course (Level 1 & 2)
Food Safety Supervisor Course (Level 2)
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ)
FSANZ Standard 3.2.2A