Food safety is especially important in school canteens since children can be more susceptible to foodborne illnesses. Food Standards Australia New Zealand and the Australian National University in 2022 estimated there are 4.67 million cases of foodborne illnesses in Australia each year that resulted in 47,900 hospitalisations and 38 deaths.

Food service, caterer and related food retail businesses, such as school canteens, need to meet a new stricter food safety standard that will come into effect 8 December 2023 — Standard 3.2.2A Food Safety Management Tools. Standard 3.2.2A is an extension of the Standard 3.2.2 Food Safety Requirements in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code), for food businesses identified as a Category One or Two that engage in high-risk food handling activities, which aims to improve food safety. The Standard applies to businesses in food service that handle unpackaged, potentially hazardous food that is ready to eat.

School canteens are classified as a Category One Business and as such must implement all three Food Safety Management Tools to strengthen their management of hazards known to contribute to foodborne illness. These standards provide a risk-based, preventative approach to providing safe and suitable food which is based on the principle that food safety is best ensured by implementing food hygiene controls at each stage of food handling, and implementation of additional risk management tools.

The newly released Pro-Visual AR Interactive — School Canteen Guide to Food Safety & Nutrition 2023/24, produced in conjunction with Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), Food Safety Information Council (FSIC) and the NSCA Foundation, features guidance on the new Standard 3.2.2A and Food Safety Management Tools Fact Sheets for implementation of all three Food Safety Management Tools based on food handling activities, in addition to existing obligations. The three tools are food safety supervisor, mandatory food handler training and substantiation of critical food safety controls.

Designed to be displayed, the AR Interactive — School Canteen Guide to Food Safety & Nutrition 2023/24 is developed with interactive augmented reality (AR) capabilities for use with a smart device, by simply downloading the free Pro-Vis AR Safety App via the App Store or Google Play, available via subscription at www.provisual.com.au.

Together Pro-Visual Publishing in consultation with FSANZ and FSIC have carefully selected additional food safety topics following in-depth sector feedback, which include:

• Housekeeping & Hygiene: Clean and sanitary premises that comply with the relevant requirements of the FSANZ Standards Code. Download free Pro-Vis AR Safety App to view videos on kitchen workflow design and good hygiene practice.
• Outlines the health, safety and wellbeing requirements relating to the Prevention and Management of Slips, Trips and Falls. Download free Pro-Vis AR Safety App to view animation on Slips, Trips and Falls and kitchen safety tips video.
• Reducing Food Loss and Waste to help to improve canteen profitability and reduce your school’s impact on the environment. Download free Pro-Vis AR Safety App to view case studies on running a school canteen, food temperature control 3D model and Healthy Canteen Pocket Guide.
• Food Variety and Balance — Overview National Action Plan for the Health of Children and Young People 2020–2030 outlines policies and regulations to help schools with their nutrition policy, guidelines and framework for recommended products and foods. Download free Pro-Vis AR Safety App to view resources for healthy eating and healthy canteen case study videos.
• How to Treat Burns and Scalds. Download free Pro-Vis AR Safety App to view St John Ambulance Burn or Scald First Aid Fact Sheet, burn wound depth visual and link to Heart180 defib information.
• Good Bugs Bad Bugs — preserving and fermenting food in glass. Download free Pro-Vis AR Safety App to view FSIC Good Bugs Bad Bugs video, school kit, recipe and class practical on making Kimchi.

Pro-Visual Publishing CEO John Hutchings states, “The success of the AR Interactive — School Canteen Guide to Food Safety & Nutrition 2023/24 cannot be achieved without the collective feedback and support from Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), Food Safety Information Council (FSIC) and corporate sponsors in promoting and rolling out across Australian school canteens Guidelines for healthy foods and drinks, and new Food Safety Requirements Standard 3.2.2A with the aim to lower the incidence of food-borne illness.

“The free Pro-Vis AR Safety App addresses what the user needs to know about food safety and provides school canteens with concise factual information to ensure compliance with food safety laws and good practice methods in workplace safety.”

For free Guides email: marketing@provisual.com.au or visit: https://www.provisual.com.au/free-guide-subscription.html.

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