Our vibrant Charles Sturt community has hundreds of amazing cafes, restaurants and food producers. As a food business owner, you have certain responsibilities and obligations.
Opening a new business?
You must notify Council of all food handling operations.
We can book a pre-opening inspection free of charge to give you advice about design and layout, and tips for handling food safely.
You may also require planning approval to open a new business.
Food safety and standards
Read our Food Safety Information Kit for tips and advice about food safety and standards.
A food business is any business that handles or sells any type of food or drink. It could be commercial, charitable, community, or a once-off occasion.
Regardless of how big or small your business is, you must comply with the Food Act 2001 and the Food Standards required for food businesses in Australia.
The City of Charles Sturt's Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) conduct routine inspections to ensure compliance with food safety standards. They're out in the community to provide guidance and advice on food safety for business owners.
For more information about the inspection process and the SA Health Food Safety Rating Scheme, view our Frequently Asked Questions.
Food News Newsletter
Our Food News Newsletter brings you the latest news in all things food.
Read the most recent edition below, or click here to view previous editions
If your business serves food to vulnerable populations, the business must adhere to Standard 3.3.1 of the Food Standards Code. Businesses primarily included are hospitals, aged care, childcare centres and delivered meals organisations.
Businesses in these sectors are required to have a mandatory food safety program and will require an audit at least annually by a SA Health approved Food Safety Auditor.
The City of Charles Sturt has approved Food Safety Auditors and is available to undertake this service to businesses within our Council area. If you would like to get your business audited by the City of Charles Sturt, or if you have any questions regarding these requirements, please call our Environmental Health Team on 8408 1111.
The following resources may be of assistance to explain the food safety auditing requirements:
Food businesses are required to ensure that all staff have adequate food handling skills and knowledge.
To help, we offer a free online food safety training with I'M ALERT or Do Food Safely.
The programs have a series of presentations and interactive tasks about Food Safety.
Each program takes less than two hours to complete and will provide you a certificate once completed.
To get started, visit I'M ALERT or Do Food Safely.
Need technical help? Assistance is available for both I’M ALERT and Do Food Safely.
The Food Safety Rating Scheme lets you make informed choices about where to eat. The City of Charles Sturt is participating in the voluntary state-wide scheme created by SA Health.
5 Stars = Excellent
4 Stars = Very Good
3 Stars = Good
Businesses who receive a rating of less than 3 stars are not eligible for participation in the Scheme.
Read more about the Food Safety Rating Scheme.
We have a range of fact sheets to help you manage food safety risks in business.
- Cleaning of Food Premises
- Disposable Food Handler Gloves
- Food Premises - Local Equipment Suppliers List
- Food Premises Construction and Fit-out Guidelines
- Food Premises Fitout Checklist
- Cooling of Potentially Hazardous Food
- Hand Washing
- Home Based Food Businesses
- Preparation of Raw Egg Products
- Prevention of Food Contamination
- Sanitising of Food Contact Surfaces
- Storage of Personal Goods and Chemicals to Prevent Food Contamination
- Suitability and Maintenance of Premises Fittings and Equipment
- Tea Towels in the Food Industry
- Temperature Control
Downloadable social distancing signs are available below for assistance in keeping your business safe.
Food Safety for Business FAQs
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.