Business Information

Unsafe or Unsuitable Food

The community's expectation is that the food, which is purchased, will be safe and suitable for consumption. It is an offence for a food business to sell unsafe or unsuitable food.

The words "unsafe" and "unsuitable" are widely used in food laws throughout Australia but they each have different meaning.

In general terms, food is considered to be "unsafe" if consumption results in actual harm to the consumer whereas 'unsuitable' food includes food that is damaged or deteriorated or perished or contains a foreign object but may not necessarily cause harm.

For example, if a food business incorrectly handled or processed food, before sale to the consumer, resulting in high bacterial levels and the consumer did not subject the food to any further processing such cooking prior to consumption then the food item would be considered to be "unsafe".

The sale of improperly prepared sandwiches which may have been stored in the temperature danger zone (at room temperature) for a significant period resulting in high bacterial levels and likely to result in actual harm would be considered as "unsafe".

Consumers who suffer from food allergies should be aware that just because they may suffer an allergic reaction to a particular food, does not necessarily make the food "unsafe" since the majority of the public are not affected by consuming the food item.

In regard to being "unsuitable" an insect being cooked in food can be used as an example. Consumption of the food with the insect therein will not generally cause illness, but would be considered unacceptable.

Consumers who may have concerns about a particular incident involving "unsafe" or "unsuitable" food are invited to contact Council for advice or other appropriate action.