Bunnings sausage sizzles in the clear amid new food safety regulations

Bunnings’ sausage sizzle lovers can now breathe a sigh of relief after the hardware giant confirmed the iconic snack will be exempt from new food standard rules.

From December 2023, new food safety management rules will be implemented by Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) that will impact businesses in food service, catering and retail sectors.

These include restaurants, cafes, takeaway shops, pubs, supermarkets and mobile food vendors.

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Food service businesses will now have to have a qualified food safety supervisor and ensure all staff have undertaken a food handling training course.

With various community groups responsible for hosting sausage sizzles at Bunnings locations across the country, ensuring a food safety supervisor and trained staff are available at each location would be almost impossible.

Thankfully, Bunnings director of store operations Ben Camire has confirmed its sausage sizzles will be exempt from the new rules.

“As community groups host sausage sizzles at our stores for fundraising and charitable purposes, it’s our understanding they’re exempt from the new safety standards scheduled to come into effect later this year,” he said.

“However, we provide all groups with guidelines to help them meet the food handling requirements set by their local councils and get the most out of their fundraising.

“The detail can vary depending on their location, but in general this covers the safe handling and preparation of food.”

FSANZ also confirmed to 7NEWS.com.au that the requirements do not apply to events where food is prepared and sold to raise money for a community or charitable cause.

“The exemption recognises fundraising events are often run by volunteers, on an ad hoc basis,” it said.

“However, organisations running fundraising events still have to ensure only safe and suitable food is sold, and meet the requirements of Standards 3.2.2 and 3.2.3.”