LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

Legal requirements are there on a church wishing to serve food to people



Legal Requirements by a Church

What legal requirements are there on a church wishing to serve food to people?

Introduction

Church is a holy place where religious activities are performed on a routine basis. The topic is related to Pastoral theology, which is the reflection of the Church; the paper sets directions for all of the pastoral activity being performed by the Church. The significance lies in building up the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.

This paper will mainly discuss the legal requirements that have to be followed by a church wishing to serve food to people and the rules and regulations that are currently enforced by law regarding food hygiene. Food Standards Agency is an independent government body which is responsible for food safety and hygiene across the United Kingdom. Furthermore, food storage preservation, cooking for homeless by the church and various issues will be outlined in this paper affecting the church in relation to the proper compliance with relevant legislation.

Health and safety legislation

Environmental health officers (EHOs) are the regulators who hold the responsibility of paying visits and doing inspections in terms of food hygiene. The frequency of their visits depends on the way handling of food takes place. EHOs give advice to churches and people where it is required. (France, 2011, p.7) Secondly, when volunteers do food preparations at home which is to be served to people in the church halls then the hygiene regulations are to be followed in their respective kitchens, as well. EHO can pay a visit to domestic kitchens depending on how frequently the serving food is prepared there.

Food Hygiene

One should make sure that all the volunteers in the church must be fully aware of the law concerning food hygiene. It is highly recommended that those who work in kitchens providing food to the public are supervised by a qualified, experience and recognized individual who has received training from Chartered Institute of Environmental Health or the Royal Institute of Public Health and Hygiene.

However, the priest, in charge of your parish can be held legally responsible for any infringements of food hygiene regulations. The law applies to anything from a cup of coffee to a large parish dinner. It even apply to the foods that are meant to be distributed among people, e.g. food parcels distributed at Patronal festival prayers and after offering sermons in the church.

The Regulations require “food business proprietors and/or those in positions of responsibility, (organisers etc.), to ensure that all persons engaged as food handlers be supervised and instructed and/or trained in food hygiene matters commensurate with their work activities.”

The helpers involved indirectly under the catering operations in many Church halls, Parish halls and Community facilities, do not necessarily need to be given accredited training. It may be enough for them to receive instruction and then be supervised by someone who has themselves been properly trained. However the food handlers directly involve in preparation of food must receive formal ...