Food laws and legislation

Question 1

What are the five pieces of legislation cover the Catering industry?

Answer 1

Food safety act 1990
Food safety regulations 1995
Food labelling regulations 2006
Trades description act
Health and safety at work act 1974

Question 2

Which piece of legislation explains what environmental health officers (EHO’s) should do?

Answer 2

Food safety act 1990

Question 3

Which piece of legislation says that all establishments must have HACCP plans?

Answer 3

Food safety act 1990

Question 4

Which piece of legislation means that food handlers and manufacturers can be prosecuted if their food is unsafe?

Answer 4

Food safety act 1990

Question 5

The food safety regulation 1995 covers which three areas?

Answer 5

Food premises
Staff hygiene
Hygienic practices

Question 6

The food labelling regulations 2006 means what information must legally be on a food label?

Answer 6

Date mark e.g. best before
Ingredients
Name and address of manufacturer
Name and description of food
Weight
Special claims e.g. vegetarian or low in fat
Instructions for storage and cooking

Question 7

According to the food labelling regulations 2006 ingredients should be listed in what order?

Answer 7

Weight (biggest to smallest)

Question 8

According to the food labelling regulations 2006 what does an ‘e’ symbol next to the weight mean?

Answer 8

The weight is the average weight

Question 9

Does the nutrition of a product legally have to be on the food packet?

Answer 9

No. The food labelling regulations 2006 do not make this legal.

Question 10

What does the trades description act do?

Answer 10

Makes it a criminal offence to falsely describe goods or services

Question 11

When trying to meet the trades description act you need to be careful about:

Answer 11

Wording menus e.g. frozen foods cannot be called fresh
Describing items to customers
Letting customers know about extra costs

Question 12

What does the health and safety at work act 1974 do?

Answer 12

Covers all aspects of health and safety. Employees must take care of their own health and safety and not endanger others

Question 13

According to the health and safety at work act 1974 employers must:

Answer 13

Take responsibility of employees health and safety
Provide enough working space
Provide safe working areas
Provide staff training where needed
Safe and maintained equipment
Good ventilation, lighting and temperature control
Fire evacuation routes
Risk assessment

Question 14

According to the health and safety at work act 1974 employees must:

Answer 14

Take care of their own health and safety
Take reasonable care of others health and safety
Not misuse equipment, machinery or premises

Question 15

Warning signs are often used in Catering kitchens. What do they look like?

Answer 15

Triangular. Black symbol on yellow background. E.g. caution - trip hazard.

Question 16

Mandatory (must do) signs are often used in Catering kitchens. What do they look like?

Answer 16

Circular. White symbol on blue background. E.g. wash hands.

Question 17

Prohibition (do not do) signs are often used in Catering kitchens. What do they look like?

Answer 17

Circular. Black symbol on white background, outlined in red with a thick diagonal line. E.g. no mobile phones, no smoking.

Question 18

Emergency signs are often used in Catering kitchens. What do they look like?

Answer 18

Square or rectangular. White symbol on green background. E.g. emergency exit sign.

Question 19

Fire signs are often used in Catering kitchens. What do they look like?

Answer 19

Square or rectangular. White symbol on red background. E.g. fire reel.

Question 20

What are the three components a fire needs?

Answer 20

Fuel, air and heat.

Question 21

What are the three main methods used to extinguish fires?

Answer 21

Starving, smothering and cooling.

Question 22

How often should fire alarms be tested?

Answer 22

Weekly

Question 23

What should you do if there is a fire in the kitchen?

Answer 23

Raise the alarm
Call the fire brigade
Turn or gas, electricity and fans
If trained and safe try to extinguish the fire
Close doors and windows
Leave the building and go to the assembly point