A new advocacy group to improve compliance and standards in the handling of food at all levels of the cold chain in Australia has been founded.
The inaugural session of the Australian Food Cold Chain Council (AFCCC) was held last week in Queensland, with heavyweights in manufacturing, food transport, refrigeration and cold chain services reportedly in attendance.
SuperCool Australia Pacific MD Mark Mitchell is the group's interim chair, and Simplot Australia's transport manager Kyle Hawker, and Lion's national transport leader and Adam Wade are among the interim directors of the AFCCC.
The group aims to encouraging innovation, compliance, waste reduction and safety across the Australian food cold chain.
“The new Council is not about promoting an industry – we want to change the industry for the better, Mitchell said.
“One of our priorities will be to apply whatever pressure is needed in industry and in government to make sure the existing Australian standards for cold chain food handling are properly followed.”
“There's lots of rhetoric in government programs, associations and among food handlers and suppliers about commitments to food waste reduction and cold chain compliance, but little, if nothing, is being done at any level about improving the cold chain, and ensuring that standards are followed.
“Australia's track record in efficient cold food handling, from farm to plate, is far from perfect,” Mitchell said.
He said the new advocacy group's first priorities will be contributing to both the development of the
National Food Waste Strategy and becoming part of the CRC designed to address food
waste and fraud.
Those interested in joining the AFCCC or learning more about it, can email
AustralianColdChain@gmail.com.
