NSAI donates key food hygiene standard to FoodCloud charities

The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) has announced a link-up with FoodCloud, providing copies of a key food hygiene standard to 303 charities, community groups and local causes in the surplus food distributor’s network.

One in eight people in Ireland currently experiences food poverty, according to figures from the Department of Social Protection, and demand for meals from charities and community groups has soared in recent years. Since 2013, FoodCloud has diverted more than 9,200 tonnes of food – or 20 million meals – from landfill.

Food is donated to its three hubs in Dublin, Cork and Galway by manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers. Charities are then notified what products are available and are able to select the products they wish to either collect or have delivered for use. 

Charities that receive food from the FoodCloud Hubs are considered to be catering businesses, and are required to comply with food regulations in traceability, hygiene and information to consumers.

By providing the I.S. 340 food hygiene standard to these charities, NSAI hopes to assist them in complying with their legal obligations, when providing their essential services.

“By law, all food business operators, including charities that provide food to service users, are required to comply with Irish and EU legislation governing food hygiene,” said NSAI Chief Executive, Geraldine Larkin.

“NSAI is delighted to provide free access to this key standard which enables compliance, supporting FoodCloud-registered charities to continue providing this public good service for thousands of people every day.”

In addition to food distribution, FoodCloud provides supplementary support to its charities in order to use the food available by creating recipes that use the available ingredients.

“We at FoodCloud are delighted to have the support of the National Standards Authority of Ireland, which is helping us increase awareness of food safety among the charities, community groups and local causes that we help,” said FoodCloud Hubs CEO and co-founder, Aoibheann O’Brien.

“With its help, we will be able to make these national standards on food safety available, ensuring that charities and local projects can continue to serve nutritious meals from surplus food in a safe manner.”

First published by NSAI in 2007, I.S. 340 provides guidance to compliance with the hygiene regulation for food catering operations. The standard has been notified to the EU Commission and is recognised as official guides to compliance with the regulation.

Food Standards Consultative Committee
The Food Industry Standards Committee (FISC) is the national oversight committee for participation in National (Irish Standard or I.S.) European (European Norm or EN) and International standardisation.

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Source: EnviroSolutions