Most food-borne illness problems are related to improper food handling by the consumer.
During community consultation issues of food safety and storage in the home were raised.
The consultation process recorded many commonly held beliefs and habits which increased
people’s risk of food-borne illnesses. As highlighted by ‘Easing the Transition’ there are a
number of reasons for discussing food safety and storage in the home:
- many new arrivals may be making a transition form daily to weekly food shopping and
may be unfamiliar with safe methods of storing foods;
- Some refugees may be using refrigeration and microwaves for the first time in
Australia;
- In some cultures, the advance preparation of food and eating of leftovers is
unacceptable;
- Some new arrivals may be unfamiliar with supermarkets and associated food storage
and handling practices;
- Some new arrivals may have been separated from family members and may not have
acquired adequate food safety skills1
.