Food Receipts - IMPORTANT

[miffy]

Well if you get ill through Listeria, it can come out up to 72 days later. This is caused by salads, dairy and pate (cannot find the accent on my keyboard). Double checked at the first air course today

Thanks Wendy for checking this out - I'm amazed it's so long and there is no way I would remember what I'd eaten that long ago

miffy xx

[angeldelight]

My god 72 days??? That is a long time

Angel xx

[cloud9]

As you all know it became a requirement in January 2006 for childminders to register as a food operating business......even if they were only providing snacks and drinks.

As a food business operator we are required to keep ALL invoices and receipts for ANY and ALL food purchases relating to our business regardless of how much it cost!

So although the Inland Revenue states that we don't have to keep receipts for anything under £10 The Food Standards Agency are now telling us that we do if the purchase relates to food!

It is a LEGAL REQUIREMENT so that food can be traced back to where it came from.

This is laid out in the new NCMA Members Handbook which has just been issued (2008/2009)

I'm confused because i haven't had to register as a food operating business here in surrey. Our local council issued forms which we had to answer certain questions and then they would decide if we needed to register. Is anyone else near me in surrey and has had to register?

[venus89]

What about if you don't claim for the food on your taxes but still supply it, free of charge to parents (eg for snacks)?

[cloud9]

This is the exact wording in the handbook Mary

Since January 2006 new laws mean childminders who offer certain food services, such as providing soft drinks and snacks as part of their usual childminding business, are considered to be food business operators and so are required to register their premises with the local authority. Most local authorities ask people to register through the Environmental Health Department (EHD)

I do know that some boroughs have asked minders not to register....and are still asking us not to register.....as they do not know exactly how to deal with us.

Elmbridge is one of those borough's.

Runnymede sent out letters to all minders about a year ago asking them to just answer a few questions......you will need to check with Mandy exactly what else she had to do.

I don't know how Woking stands on the matter.

Yeah i come under runnymede i got the questionaire so i called them and they said to just fill it in and send it back. it'd be unlikely we would need to register but if i did they'd let me know but i didn't

[ChocolateChip]

I used to work for Tesco and Iceland, with all kinds of fresh and frozen food, including deli and fish, and we were told up to eighty days for food poisoning.

What I don't understand is it's not the receipts that track the food, it's the batch numbers and manufacturer/producer codes that pinpoint where it comes from, so it's labels and packaging that we would need to keep. Most major supermarkets might have the same own-brand product ( or fresh meat for example) that comes from different factories, so 3 packs of chicken kievs that look exactly the same may all be from a different supplier, and there's no way a receipt would tell you that.

I haven't got room for receipts, let alone the batch numbers!

[miffy]

I used to work for Tesco and Iceland, with all kinds of fresh and frozen food, including deli and fish, and we were told up to eighty days for food poisoning.

What I don't understand is it's not the receipts that track the food, it's the batch numbers and manufacturer/producer codes that pinpoint where it comes from, so it's labels and packaging that we would need to keep. Most major supermarkets might have the same own-brand product ( or fresh meat for example) that comes from different factories, so 3 packs of chicken kievs that look exactly the same may all be from a different supplier, and there's no way a receipt would tell you that.

I haven't got room for receipts, let alone the batch numbers!

That's an interesting point Nikki - thanks.

There was an article in "Who Minds?" about this but it still said to keep receipts.

miffy xx

[angeldelight]

Well I have not been told so dont think I will bother - I will act dumb which is not hard to do haha

I have enough to remember and most receipts end up screwed up in the botton of my bag and then get thrown out when I have a sort out - I am not going to go through them all

Interesting point about the food though - think I might act like I know it all and make that point if ever im asked about receipts

Angel xx

[donnahay0]

"I suggest we just take a deep breath and keep each month's food receipts in a separate poly wallet ... no way can we fight this one, so let's just accept it as another paper gathering exercise.

Keep the same 12 wallets marked with the months of the year and as the month comes round again, throw away last years receipts and replace with this"

This is a good idea Sarah - I think I might copy that one if it's ok with you.

Just completed my Food Hygiene course (refresher) and it said nothing about keeping recepits in here although it did state about keeping records.

[miffy]

Well I have not been told so dont think I will bother - I will act dumb which is not hard to do haha

I have enough to remember and most receipts end up screwed up in the botton of my bag and then get thrown out when I have a sort out - I am not going to go through them all

Interesting point about the food though - think I might act like I know it all and make that point if ever im asked about receipts

Angel xx

I am not registered and I am not keeping receipts either!

Does that make me a rebel

miffy xx

[angeldelight]

Lets be rebels together Miffy haha

Angel xx

[miffy]

Lets be rebels together Miffy haha

Angel xx

miffy xx

[angeldelight]

Or ........


You could be the rebel

I will be the sexy one haha

xx

[miffy]

Or ........


You could be the rebel

I will be the sexy one haha

xx

Now you're being cheeky!

You know it's me

miffy xx

[custardcream]

I am not registered either, and was told to only register if i was asked to do so.

[Banana]

I am not registered either, and was told to only register if i was asked to do so.

same here!
x

[disney]

i am not registered and untill i read this on here i didnt know any thing about it. so i will just wait and see if any one writes to me . i only do drinks & snacks but if they want all that then i wont even provide that at the end im sorry but it all drives me x

[chez1373]

Im not registered either im now panicing as i had no idea oops should i ask or keep quiet?

[angeldelight]

I would not worry if you are not registered

Like myself I think they contact you first anyway

Dont worry

Angel xx