The lesson
01
Why food rules apply to community groups
Food made for a good cause still needs to be safe. FSANZ explains that the legal meaning of a ‘food business’ covers charities and community groups, even if they sell food only once. Food counts as ‘sold’ even when people are only asked for a donation.
Safe Food Victoria adds that being a community group doesn’t change the obligation to keep food safe. It encourages volunteers to complete DoFoodSafely, its free online training for food handlers, which takes about an hour.
Source:Food Standards Australia New Zealand — Information for charities and community organisations (opens in a new tab)Safe Food Victoria — Fundraising with food for community groups (opens in a new tab)
02
How food activities are classified in Victoria
In Victoria, the Food Act 1984 sets the rules for selling food. Food activities are grouped into classes, and each class has its own food safety requirements. Risk depends on the type of food, how it gets to the venue, and how it is stored, prepared and handled on the day.
Safe Food Victoria’s fundraising guidance is for not-for-profit groups, mostly run by volunteers, that sell food only to raise funds, for no more than two days in a row at one site.
- Community food activities may be class 2, 3 or 4
- Class 2 covers high-risk food handling; class 4 covers low-risk
- The local council decides the class and explains the group’s responsibilities
- The higher the risk, the more care is needed
Source:Safe Food Victoria — Fundraising with food for community groups (opens in a new tab)
03
Registration and notification: an overview
Before a food fundraiser in Victoria, a group must register or notify its local council, or the council where the event is held. Which one applies depends on the group’s situation. Safe Food Victoria says this is done online through FoodTrader.
Volunteers who donate food, including homemade food, don’t need to register. But they should follow good food safety practice and label all ingredients. FSANZ suggests a group may find it easier to nominate one person to handle notification. Councils can inspect a stall at any time.
Source:Safe Food Victoria — Fundraising with food for community groups (opens in a new tab)Food Standards Australia New Zealand — Information for charities and community organisations (opens in a new tab)
04
Allergen information for customers
Under Victoria’s Food Act, anyone selling food must be able to give customers accurate information about its ingredients. Safe Food Victoria says sellers must be able to tell customers, if asked, whether any of 11 listed allergens are in their food. The full list is on its page.
Food containing allergens should be easy to identify. Safe Food Victoria also asks people who donate food to label all the ingredients they used. FSANZ’s page for charities links to a fact sheet on labelling food.
Source:Safe Food Victoria — Fundraising with food for community groups (opens in a new tab)Food Standards Australia New Zealand — Information for charities and community organisations (opens in a new tab)
05
Giving away free food
Giving food away is treated differently from selling it. FSANZ says charities, groups and volunteers giving free food may be exempt from some or all food business laws, but other laws may still apply. Remember, asking for a donation counts as selling.
For example, civil liability laws can limit the liability of people who donate food, if certain food safety conditions are met. The donor needs to make sure food is safe when it leaves them, and should pass on what the recipient needs to know, such as handling and time limits. FSANZ advises checking with the local council.