Bringing in Food

Food brought into the facility for residents and patients needs to be safe and suitable for special dietary needs.

Can I bring food in for patients and residents?
  • Please speak to the nursing staff if you plan to bring food in as a treat for patients or residents or to supplement an existing menu.
  • There may be special dietary needs such as nutritional requirements, or cultural or religious needs.
  • The patient or resident may be on a texture-modified diet or on thickened fluid if they have swallowing difficulties.
  • Please do not offer to share food with other patients or residents.
  • The facility does not accept responsibility for food prepared outside of our facilities and provided to patients or residents by visitors. This includes food purchased from cafes and food retailers.
  • It increases risk of food poisoning if food is not prepared, transported, stored or served. Food poisoning can be very serious for the patient or residents. Please refer to the safe food preparation, transportation, storage and reheating guidelines below.
Safe Food Preparation, Transportation, Storage and Reheating Guidelines
  • ​Always maintain personal hygiene and wash hands before handling food
  • Transport all food must at the right temperature to prevent bacteria growing.
  • Transport cold food below 5 degree Celsius or colder. Transport in an 'esky' type container or insulated boxes with cooler bricks or sheets.
  • Transport hot food at 60 degree Celsius or hotter, and must stay hot until eaten,
  • Transporting hot food long distances is not recommended due to difficulty in keeping hot. Food left in an uncontrolled temperature range for long hours is dangerous and may cause serious food poisoning.
  • Before transporting food ensure that it is covered appropriately.
  • Any food that is not going to eaten immediately must be covered. The food also to have a label with
    • patient’s name,
    • room number,
    • the date and time the food was prepared and by whom,
    • the date the food came onsite into the facility and refrigerated at 5 degree Celsius or below.
  • Do not put very hot food into the refrigerator. Wait until steam has stopped rising form the food before putting in the fridge.
  • Food requiring reheating must be reheated thoroughly to a minimum temperature of 75 degrees Celsius.
  • Food is only reheated once and discard any left overs.
  • Any potentially unsafe food that has been refrigerated for more than 24 hours will be discarded to minimise the risk of food poisoning.​
Need more information? 

· Better Health Channel website https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au
· Food Safety website https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/public-health/food-safety
· Food Standards Australia New Zealand website https://www.foodstandards.gov.au