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Letter to the editor – New Zealand Herald

9 October 2009

Editor

New Zealand Herald

AUCKLAND

Dear Editor

Your recent article “Health officials try to find way out of a jam” (October 8, 2009) should have said that Mrs Crawford’s jam only came to the New Zealand Food Safety Authority's attention a week ago, rather than that we only became aware of the Food Hygiene Regulations a week ago. This would be rather a worrisome scenario given that we have administered them for several years and I can assure you that we know the regulations backwards, which is no mean feat given their complexity.

The regulations are enforced by local councils through their environmental health officers. We acknowledge that the current legislation is rigid and doesn’t make allowances for people making low-risk foods – like jam – more than occasionally from their home kitchen.

The good news is that the proposed new Food Bill, which we expect to be place in a year, will include more sensible rules to take better account of food safety risks. A more flexible range of options will exist and will certainly recognise that the public doesn’t expect regulation in certain circumstances. Whatever rules are put in place, if a situation like this occurs then councils will have discretion to act sensibly and exempt operators from those rules.

In the meantime, I am pleased to say that we are working with the Far North District Council and Mrs Crawford to sort out a solution so she can carry on the good work which has benefited the local hospice for years.

Glen Neal

Assistant Director

New Zealand Food Safety Authority