Food Safety
Public Health South is contracted by the New Zealand Food Safety Authority to promote food safety and suitability within Otago and Southland.
As part of that contract Public Health South delivers the following services:
- food investigations and responding to complaints
- labelling enforcement
Food Investigations
Public Health South carries out investigations associated with food to ensure that public health risks are controlled and that steps are in place to prevent problems from recurring. Investigation can result in enforcement action such as prosecution of food premises or a recall. To view a list of the most recent food recalls, please check the NZFSA Web Site, www.nzfsa.govt.nz
Investigations usually ocur in response to complaints from the public, typically in relation to labelling of food, foreign objects found in food or suspected illness associated with food or a food premises. If a complaint relates to food manufactured outside Otago and Southland, it will be forwarded to the Public Health Service where the manufacturer or importer is based for follow up.
To make a complaint please contact your closest Public Health South office and ask to speak to a Health Protection Officer.
Key points when making a complaint:
- Maintain the food so that it doesn’t deteriorate by placing it in the fridge or freezer in a clean plastic bag or container.
- Keep packaging and receipts as it can contain information about when and where the food was produced, and is vital if you are making a complaint about the labelling.
- Make a note of the time and where the food was purchased.
- When you speak to a Health Protection Officer you will be asked to describe what has happened with the food from the point of purchase through to when you found the problem.
Please note, it is not Public Heath South’s role to ask for a refund on your behalf. Any offers made by food premises will be forwarded to complainants to do with as they wish.
Labelling
Food sold in New Zealand must meet the labelling and composition standards set out in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. Public Health South enforces the Food Standards Code in Otago and Southland.
The NZFSA has developed a number of fact sheets for use as basic guides for industry and consumers. These are available from Health Protection Officers at Public Health South. The fact sheets and a NZFSA Food labelling guide can be found on the NZFS web site (www.nzfsa.govt.nz/labelling-composition/index.htm) The full legal requirements of the food standards code can be found Food Standards Australia New Zealand’s web site. (www.foodstandards.govt.nz)
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