Food provided or sold to children and students in schools must be safely handled and stored.

Learn about your legal responsibilities and where you can find more information to make sure food and drinks are supplied safely in our schools.

Canteen requirements

In South Australia, food businesses including school canteens must comply with the:

• Food Act 2001
• Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.

Running a canteen includes a legal responsibility under the Food Standards Code (standard 3.2.2 and 3.2.3).

Food safety supervisor

From December 2023, food businesses (canteens) must have an appointed and certified food safety supervisor. See SA Health's food safety management tools - standard 3.2.2A for more information and a list of where you can get certified.

Staff and volunteers

Staff and volunteers who undertake or supervise food handling activities must have skills and knowledge in food safety and food hygiene.

If staff or volunteers do not have these skills or knowledge they must complete food safety and food hygiene training. See SA Health's food safety management tools - standard 3.2.2A for more information about food handler training.

Authorised officers from local councils may do inspections. Contact your local council to notify them of your food business.

Food safety principles

Canteen staff and volunteers must follow these food safety principles:

• follow good personal health and hygiene practices, including handwashing
• control the temperature of potentially hazardous food
• protect food from contamination
• keep the food business clean
• clean and sanitise equipment and utensils
• keep equipment and the business in good condition
• keep the business free from pests.

See SA Health’s food safety for food businesses for more information.

School food delivered by an external food business

If you have food delivered to school for your students, ensure the quality and safety of the food products received by following these steps:

• check that delivered food is covered or packaged
• make sure someone is on-site to receive and inspect food as it’s delivered
• if you've agreed to accept food between 5°C and 60°C, make sure the delivery reaches the school at the agreed time and is received under temperature control
• store potentially hazardous food under temperature control (hard frozen, below 5°C or above 60°C) and use within a suitable timeframe
• if required, make sure the food vendor has a food allergy management procedure in place and that there’s a clear communication process between the school and the food vendor if a student has an allergy - see SA Health’s allergen information for food businesses
• check that the business is a notified food business by sighting evidence they have notified their local council, or requesting a copy of their latest food safety inspection report.

Out of school hours care (OSHC) requirements

In South Australia, food businesses including out of school hours care services that supply food as part of their service, must comply with the:

• Food Act 2001
• Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.

The Education and Care Services National Regulations (Reg. 77) also requires that:

• children and young people attending out of school hours care should have access to food and drinks handled, prepared and stored safely
• the service provides adequate health and hygiene practices.

This includes making sure that:

• food and drinks are consumed within their ‘use by’ date
• food that has not been stored correctly must not be served
• food handlers are aware of their responsibilities such as washing their hands, not handling food if ill, and general food safety tips while preparing, cooking and serving food
• there are options for students to store their own food in a cool location on hot days.

If you’re involving children in food preparation, read SA Health's handling and preparing food for more information.

Food safety information

For more information about food safety, see SA Health's:

• personal hygiene and food safety
• food safety management tools - standard 3.2.2A
• food safety fundamentals (PDF 385KB).

Fundraisers and events

If you’re organising an event where food and drink is served, you need to consider food safety. If food is sold at the event, the activity is captured as a food business and you must comply with relevant requirement of the Food Standards Code.

To understand responsibilities for handling, preparing, storing and labelling foods and drink in the lead up and on the day of the event refer to Food Standards Australia New Zealand’s:

• introduction to food safety standards for charities and community organisations
• charities and community organisations fact sheets.

Allergens, intolerances and health complexities

Food allergies, intolerances and health complexities can significantly impact children if not well managed. In the case of allergies, they can be life threatening.

If you’re offering to prepare and serve food to children with an allergy, the food business must have systems in place to manage the risk. If unable to manage the risk, you should not offer or promote food items as allergen free.

Allergies management

Information on how schools can manage food service for students with allergies:

• allergen information for food businesses
• National Allergy Strategy’s all about allergens online training and information hub provides resources and free online training for staff and volunteers who prepare and serve food in schools, in camps and in care
• supporting children and students with anaphylaxis and severe allergies.

Health complexities management

If health complexities impact a child’s ability to eat or drink, you can use management plans and processes to support children and students with oral eating and drinking care needs.

Food safety training, kits and resources

• Food safety for businesses – resources to help you comply with the law and provide safe and suitable food.
• DoFoodSafely – free online food safety training program to help you understand how to safely work with and handle food.
• Food safety resources – food safety kits to help you understand key aspects of the mandatory Food Safety standards. There’s also fact sheets and posters you can use in your school canteen.

Contact your local council for advice on day-to-day or one-off event food safety questions and access to training or support.

You can also contact your school’s local council Environmental Health Officer or SA Health’s Food Standards Surveillance team on 8226 7100 or via healthfood@sa.gov.au.