Application

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to package and label prepared foodstuffs for storage and transportation. It requires the ability to check the quality of food and select correct packaging materials.
The unit applies to operational personnel in hospitality and catering organisations that prepare, package and label food. This could include restaurants, educational institutions, health establishments, defence forces, cafeterias, kiosks, cafes, residential caterers, in-flight and other transport caterers, and event and function caterers.
It applies to individuals who work with very little independence and under close supervision. They follow predefined organisational procedures and report any discrepancies to a higher-level staff member for action.
The skills in this qualification must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State or Territory legislation, Australian standards and industry codes of practice.
No occupational licensing, certification or specific legislative requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

What You'll Learn

Assessment Requirements

Performance Evidence

Evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit in the context of the job role, and:
• package and label each of the following foodstuffs:
• beverages
• dairy products
• dry goods
• frozen goods
• fruit and vegetables
• meat, poultry or seafood
• demonstrate procedure to check quality of above foodstuffs against quality criteria
• select and use the following aseptically treated packaging materials for the above foodstuffs:
• plastic cling wrap
• plastic containers
• foil containers
• polystyrene foam
• cryovac machine
• recyclable packaging materials
• package above foodstuffs within commercial time constraints
• maintain packaging work area in line with food safety environmental requirements.

Knowledge Evidence

Demonstrated knowledge required to complete the tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit:
• quality criteria for food to be packaged:
• correct portion size
• shelf-life
• freshness
• visual appeal
• key contents of labelling guidelines and specifications determined by:
• the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code
• local, state or territory food safety regulations
• organisational food safety procedures and labelling specifications for packaging food
• meaning as defined by the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code of:
• contaminant
• contaminated food
• potentially hazardous foods
• environmental requirements for packaging area to avoid food contamination:
• temperature control
• cleaning and sanitising of:
• packaging area
• packaging equipment
• recyclable packaging materials
• protecting food from contaminants, pests and foreign objects
• features of packaging materials for food:
• aseptically treated
• capable of protecting food from damage
• non-contaminating
• of appropriate dimensions for food
• stackable and transportable
• visually appropriate to functional need
• characteristics and uses of packaging materials specified in the performance evidence
• packaging requirements for specific food types specified in the performance evidence
• types of recycled packaging materials and their uses:
• cardboard
• bamboo
• requirements of organisational food safety procedures relating to packaging food.

Assessment Conditions

Skills must be demonstrated in an operational commercial kitchen. This can be:
• an industry workplace; or
• a simulated industry environment, such as an industry-realistic training kitchen packaging commercial quantities of foodstuffs.
Assessment must ensure access to:
• fixtures and large equipment:
• commercial grade work benches (1.5m per person)
• commercial refrigeration facilities:
• cool room or fridge
• freezer
• computers and printers or labelling machine
• designated storage areas for dry goods and perishables
• small equipment:
• containers for hot and cold food storage
• cutting boards
• measures:
• measuring jugs
• measuring spoons
• portion control scoops and markers
• scales
• temperature probe
• thermometer
• tongs and serving utensils
• food safe gloves
• cleaning materials and equipment:
• cleaning cloths
• commercial cleaning and sanitising agents and chemicals for cleaning commercial kitchens, equipment and food storage areas
• dustpans and brooms
• garbage bins and bags
• hand towel dispenser and hand towels
• mops and buckets
• separate hand basin and soap for hand washing
• sponges, brushes and scourers
• tea towels
• organisational specifications:
• equipment manufacturer instructions
• current commercial label specifications
• food safety procedures for packaging food
• food safety plan
• procedures relating to referring food quality or equipment problems and selecting packaging materials
• recording systems
• guidelines relating to food disposal, storage and presentation requirements
• safety data sheets (SDS) for cleaning agents and chemicals
• current Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code
• packaging materials described in the performance evidence
• packaging labels
• foodstuffs described in the performance evidence in commercial quantities to be packaged.
Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations’ requirements for assessors and:
• have achieved the Certificate II in Kitchen Operations, or Certificate III or Certificate IV in Commercial Cookery or their successors; or
• hold a trade certificate as a cook or chef or equivalent.

Foundation Skills

• {'skill': 'Reading skills to:', 'description': 'read and understand label specifications and organisational food safety procedures for packaging food.'}
• {'skill': 'Writing skills to:', 'description': 'record accurate details on food labels for packaged foods.'}
• {'skill': 'Numeracy skills to:', 'description': 'calculate quantities of food items and packaging materials for particular jobs.'}
• {'skill': 'Problem-solving skills to:', 'description': 'maintain environmental conditions to prevent contamination of food packaging area.'}
• {'skill': 'Technology skills to:', 'description': 'use food packaging and labelling equipment.'}

Prerequisite Units

• SITXFSA005

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