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Environmental Health Officers are increasingly coming across old microwave ovens as they age with splashed internal ceilings, blistering and rusting paint and the possibility safety mesh seals might be breaking down. Sometimes the wheel track under the revolving plate has just about rusted away. When microwave ovens first came out then EHO's used to carry a little tool that evidently lit up when leakage was detected. Always put a microwave safe container of water in to load the microwave when testing or you can damage the microwave oven. Take care with old cups because the superheated steam in a crack can cause a delayed explosion sometimes as you take them out of the microwave. Now there are a massive range of hand held digital microwave testing tools available. Just like test and tag for electrical appliances, some service commercial service providers extend this to testing there is no radiation leakage from microwave ovens above acceptable limits. I have asked Energysafe who does the ongoing testing of commercial kitchen microwave ovens if we ever suspect there may be problems. I will let you know their response. Generally newer microwaves with give more reliable defrosting and cooking that are important for food safety as well as user safety.

I anyone still using iAuditor? If so please contact me.

Australian Food Safety Week Australian Food Safety Week 2020 will be held from 14 to 21 November 2020. The theme will be ‘Food Safety – it’s in your hands’ where we will be building upon the good behaviour established during the COVID-19 pandemic so we can continue to reduce the amount of foodborne disease. Find out more… https://foodsafety.asn.au/ DHHS Victoria is the only state or territory who is not one of our members having withdrawn last year.

Complaints can be up against large manufacturers trying to negotiate reasonable compensation for their efforts and save these corporations enormous amounts of money in recalls, market loss or other compensation cases. Complainants are a part of continuous improvement. The Department of Justice has not been returning calls during the pandemic however does anyone have anyone know of any standards or guidelines for reasonable compensation for reporting justified food complaints?

How many EHO's are wearing Body Worn Cameras? Has your Council actively promoted the new Body Worn Cameras use to proprietors? Have you ever seconded a compliance officer with a Body Worn Camera to assist in collection of evidence as a true and accurate record? How do you think the use of Body Worn Cameras will impact on the relationship EHO's have with proprietors?