PUN364 Food Safety

Food is a fundamental human need and a prerequisite to good health. Ensuring that the food we eat is safe is a major function of both government and industry. The food sector is one of the largest industries in Australia, with over 20 billion meals provided each year. Even though the food supply in Australia is one of the safest in the world, government data indicates that each year over 5 million cases of gastroenteritis are believed to be caused by contaminated food (most of these being unreported to health authorities). The aim of this unit is to develop a detailed understanding of food contaminants, food safety principles and legislation and their application so that future health professionals are able to identify and implement processes to ensure a safe food supply and prevent food-borne illness in the community. The material in this unit focuses on food safety regulation, but is also relevant to professionals working in the areas of food service management and nutrition.