Only the Best in Your Basket
What are the quality indicators when purchasing tomatoes?
Firm, no bruising, no mould, bright colour, not soft
What is the temperature of a fridge?
1-5 degrees
What does FIFO stand for?
First In First Out
What is the temperature range of the "Danger Zone"
5 - 60 degrees
Describe two signs of pest infestation you might notice when receiving goods
Droppings, gnaw marks, insect bodies, webbing, or damaged packaging.
What are the quality indicators when purchasing eggs?
Look at used by date, no cracks in the shell, pointy side facing down in the box, clean looking shell.
What is the temperature of a freezer?
-15 - -21 degrees
What is a best before date?
A 'best before' date means the food is still safe to eat after the date as long as it is not damaged, deteriorated or perished.
A 'best before' date simply indicates that the food may lose some of its quality after this date.
Foods can be legally sold after a 'best before' date as long as they are not damaged, deteriorated or perished.
Name a perishable ingredient
Meat, seafood, dairy, fresh fruit & vegetables
What documentation should be completed when goods are delivered?
Delivery docket, invoice, temperature logs, and any rejection notes.
What are the quality indicators when purchasing fish?
Clear eyes, not slimy, not a strong fishy smell, gloss shine but not sticky.
What is the optimum temperature of a dry store?
11 - 21 degrees
What is Use by date?
A 'use by' date means the food must be eaten or thrown away by the date.
After this date foods may be unsafe to eat even if they look fine because the nutrients in the food may become unstable or a build-up of bacteria may occur.
It is illegal to sell foods after a 'use by' date.
Name a non perishable ingredient?
Chocolate, flour, sugar, rice, pasta, tinned produce
What are the key checks you must perform when receiving a food delivery?
Quantity, quality, temperature, use-by/best-before dates, packaging integrity, signs of pests, and delivery against order/docket.
What are the quality indicators of purchasing Chicken?
Not slimey or sticky, no offensive smell, fleixble breast bone, blueish tinge, skin intact, no feathers, clear shine to the skin.
How should you defrost meat or poultry?
In the coolroom on a tray on the bottom shelf or in the microwave for immediate use.
What is a stocktake and why is it important?
A stocktake allows you to know what stock you have on hand before re ordering.
It is important to save you costs and understand how much wastage can be occuring. It also allow accountability with your staff.
Why is it important to label and date all stored food?
Ensures traceability, supports FIFO, prevents using expired food.
Why is it necessary to reject damaged packaging, even if the product inside appears fine?
Damaged packaging can allow contamination, pests, or spoilage even if contents appear safe.
Which food safety standards in Australia cover stock receiving and storage requirements?
FSANZ Food Standards Code, particularly Standard 3.2.2 (Food Safety Practices and General Requirements).
What should the internal temperature of chicken be to ensure that it is safe to eat?
75 degrees
Name 3 things that should be included on a label before storing food?
Date, time, name of product, ingredients, person who prepared it, used by date
Name 3 ways you can preserve food that is close to expiry?
Canning, Freezing, Dehydrate, Vacuum (Cryovac), blanch or cook the ingredient.
A delivery of frozen chicken arrives at –8 °C instead of –18 °C. What steps should you take?
You should send it back to the supplier and ask for a credit and re delivery of goods that are within the acceptable temperature range.