Food safety

Reporting a food complaint

You can report a food poisoning or food hygiene complaint for food businesses within the City of Port Phillip by contacting us.

Please provide clear details of what you have experienced and provide photos if possible.

If you believe you have suffered from food poisoning from consuming food from a business in Port Phillip, please provide the following information in your request:

• name and address of the business
• what did you eat that you suspect is the cause of your illness 
• do you have any leftovers that could be tested? (note - leftover food needs to be in its original condition and refrigerated)
• date and time the suspected food was consumed
• what symptoms were experienced and the date and time of symptoms
• how many people were affected and was there sharing of the suspected meal
• did anyone require medical attention and was any testing conducted by the doctor to confirm food poisoning? 

Food safety at home

Food safety at home is just as important as it is when eating out

Food safety rules

Keep it cold or keep it hot

• Microorganisms can grow quickly if food is kept between 5 degrees and 60 degrees Celsius
• Keep food refrigerated at 5 degrees Celsius or colder
• Cook food to 75 degrees Celsius and keep hot food piping hot right up to serving (more than 60 degrees Celsius)
• Cool food quickly (e.g. in shallow containers in the fridge)
• If reheating food, reheat it quickly to piping hot
• Do not thaw frozen food at room temperature - thaw it in the fridge or use the microwave

Keep it clean

• Wash your hands thoroughly with warm soapy water and dry them before handling food and after handling raw foods
• Clean your benches, cutting boards, utensils and dishes with hot soapy water before and after preparing food
• Clean and rise wiping cloths are each use and change them frequently

Keep it separate

• Keep raw food separate from cooked or ready to eat food
• Use separate utensils and cutting boards when preparing raw to cooked or ready-to-eat food