How do I get a star rating for my business?

Eligible businesses have an opportunity to achieve a star rating (3, 4 or 5 stars) based on their compliance with the Food Safety Standards during your routine inspection. Businesses are awarded a certificate identifying their achieved Star Rating. At the end of the inspection, all scores are added up and converted to a Star Rating. Lower inspection scores indicate better food safety and more stars awarded.

0-3 points…….. 5 Stars Excellent food safety

4-7 points ……. 4 Stars Very good food safety

8-11 points…… 3 Stars Good food safety

Is my business eligible for the Food Safety Rating Scheme?

Only food service businesses such as hotels, restaurants, cafés and take away shops are eligible to be rated at their routine inspections. Businesses that are primarily supermarkets, only handle pre-packaged foods or do not sell directly to the public are not rated and will not be issued a certificate, irrespective of their inspection outcome.

How are the points calculated?

A non-compliance is allocated a weighted score (either 1, 4 or 8) based on the risk to the safety of food being sold:

• A weighted score of 8 means failure to comply with requirements of a Standard that is very likely to result in, or has resulted in, the preparation of unsafe or unsuitable food.
• A weighted score of 4 means failure to comply with the requirements of a Standard, and/or legislative requirements that may contribute to the preparation of unsafe or unsuitable food.
• A weighted score of 1 means failure to comply with the requirements of a Standard or legislation that is not likely to have a direct impact on the preparation of safe and suitable food.

Do I have to display the star rating certificate?

No – displaying the certificate is voluntary and at the discretion of the business owner. Inspection results for individual food business are not made public unless required by law.

When will I get my Food Safety Rating certificate?

If a business receives 3, 4 or 5 Stars, their inspection result will be forwarded to SA Health who will issue the certificate. Please allow up to four weeks to receive the certificate. If the certificate has not arrived within four weeks, please contact SA Health’s Food Safety and Nutrition Branch on 8226 7100. Further information regarding the Food Safety Rating Scheme is available on the SA Health website.

What if I got a score above 12 points?

Businesses that score 12+ points or are non-compliant in any one of the major areas (score 8) will be considered to present a higher food safety risk and, as a consequence, corrective actions must be undertaken and the business will not be issued a Star Rating certificate. Businesses will still need to undertake any corrective action to achieve compliance regardless of their final score.

Can I get a Star Rating certificate with a major (score 8) category non-compliance?

If any high risk (8 point element) is scored as non-compliant, no certificate will be issued, even if the final total score is 11 or below.

I missed out on a star rating. When can I get a certificate next?

Star rating certificates can only be issued from the results of a routine inspection.

How can I improve the scores from my inspection?

Scoring is weighted to increase scores where high food safety risks are identified. To get the best rating you should ensure that you understand the food safety risks associated with the foods you prepare and sell, and that you have controls in place to manage these risks.

You will also need to have good practices in place to ensure you clean and maintain equipment, prevent cross contamination and ensure your staff maintain hygienic practices at all times. Taking these steps can lead to a lower score and as a result you can achieve a higher Star Rating.

Can I photocopy, reproduce or alter the certificate?

No – certificates must not be copied, reproduced or altered. The certificate must be removed when the next routine food inspection is conducted.

Can the certificate be removed?

Yes  – all certificates issued remain the joint ownership of the City of Charles Sturt and SA Health. If there is a genuine reason why the business should no longer display the certificate (such as a justified food complaint or food poisoning outbreak) it may be removed.

Do you give prior warning or notice before conducting inspections?

Routine and complaint food safety inspections are conducted on an unannounced basis, meaning that no appointment is made or prior warning given. Environmental Health Officers have powers of entry in the Food Act to conduct inspection at any reasonable time which can include any time the business is open and trading or when preparation or handling is occurring.

What legislation do I need to be aware of as the owner of a food business?

Food business owners should be aware of their legal responsibilities under the following pieces of legislation:

• Food Act 2001 (South Australia)
• Food Regulations 2017 (South Australia)
• Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code

Are there penalties for not complying with the Food Safety Standards?

Failing to comply with the Food Safety Standard can result in significant penalties under the Food Act including maximum penalties for sole traders of $50,000 or an expiation fee $500, and maximum penalties for companies of $250,000 and expiation fee $2500.

How do I know if a follow up inspection will occur?

The end of your ‘Food Premises Inspection Report’ will detail if a follow up inspection will occur and on what date. If you wish to speak to our Officers about the follow up inspection you must contact them beforehand to discuss.

What should I do if I can’t address the non-compliance before the due date?

It is best to contact the Officer before the due date as listed in the report to discuss whether an extension can be negotiated.

The business details on my inspection report are incorrect. How can I fix this?

It is best to contact your inspecting Environmental Health Officer if any of your business details have changed (such as trading name, address, proprietor details). You will need to submit a Food Business Notification to us if any of these details are incorrect.

How often will I be inspected?

The majority of food businesses within the City of Charles Sturt are inspected annually, however this frequency may be altered depending on the risk classification of the business. For example, a business that manufacturers high risk foods may be inspected on a 3 to 6 monthly basis, whilst a business that sells low risks foods may be inspected on a 18 to 24 monthly basis.

Any new food businesses or change of business ownership will be inspected initially more frequently, or if serious and/or ongoing non-compliance with the Food Safety Standard is observed.

Are there fees for food safety inspections?

Yes, inspection fees for routine inspection are $134 for small businesses and $334 for large businesses. Any additional follow up inspections where non-compliance is observed will incur a fee. Fees are prescribed by the South Australian Food Regulations 2017 and are subject to change.

Where will be the invoice for the inspection fee be sent and how long do I have to pay?

The invoice for the food inspection will be posted to the postal address listed on your food business notification form and is payable online within 28 days.

What food safety training is available?

We provide free online training through ‘I’m Alert’ which covers all aspects of the Food Safety Standards.

You can access the training on our Food Safety for Business page.

A training acknowledgement form can be printed when specific sections are completed and, if all sections are completed in one session, a certificate is available for printing. The entire training takes less than 2 hours to complete.

Do you have any translated food safety information?

Yes – there are translated food safety materials on SA Health’s website.

Where can I access food safety resources?

Food safety resources, fact sheets, Food News newsletters and a digital copy of the Food Safety Kit are available on our Food Safety for Business page. If you require further information regarding food safety feel free to contact our Environmental Health Officers on 8408 1111.