Generate a customised, FSANZ-aligned food safety plan for your Australian cafe, restaurant or food business in minutes, with checklists, temperature logs and a cleaning schedule. Free PDF download.
A Food Safety Plan Generator is a free tool that builds a customised food safety plan for your business, aligned with the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. You answer a few questions about your venue and it produces a ready-to-use plan covering your hazards, temperature controls, cleaning schedule and monitoring checklists. Its purpose is to give you a written, practical framework for keeping food safe so you can meet your obligations under the Code and be ready when a council environmental health officer visits. You can download the finished plan as a free PDF to print, display or hand to staff. When to use it: When opening a new cafe, restaurant, takeaway or food business and you need a food safety plan from day one.. Before a council inspection, so your written controls and monitoring records are in place.. When onboarding new staff who need a clear reference for how food is handled safely.. As part of a regular review (for example quarterly) to keep your plan current with menu or process changes.. When your local council or auditor asks to see documented food safety procedures.. How to use it: Enter your business type, the kinds of food you handle and your main processes (receiving, storage, cooking, cooling, display). Review the generated plan sections covering hazards, temperature controls, cleaning and sanitising, and monitoring. Adjust any details so the plan matches how your kitchen actually operates. Download the free PDF, then print it, display the checklists and brief your team. Revisit and update the plan whenever your menu, equipment or processes change. What is a food safety plan? A food safety plan is a written document that sets out the food safety hazards in your business and how you control them, including temperature limits, cleaning, and how you monitor and record everything. It gives staff clear procedures and shows council you manage food safety systematically. Is a food safety plan the same as a Food Safety Program? Not exactly. A Food Safety Program is a formal, often auditable document that some higher-risk businesses are required to have under state law. A food safety plan is the broader practical framework of controls; this tool helps you document that framework, but check your state or council requirements for whether a formal accredited program is also needed. What temperatures should my food safety plan control? The plan should keep potentially hazardous food out of the temperature danger zone of 5C to 60C. Cold food should be kept at or below 5C and hot food at or above 60C, with cooked food cooled from 60C to 21C within two hours and from 21C to 5C within a further four hours. Do I legally need a written food safety plan? Requirements vary by state and by the type of food business, so check with your local council. Even where a formal program is not mandated, a written plan is strongly recommended because it demonstrates due diligence and makes inspections far smoother. How often should I update my food safety plan? Review it at least once a year, and update it sooner whenever you change your menu, add equipment, or alter a process such as how you cool or store food. Keeping it current ensures it reflects the actual hazards in your kitchen. Can I manage my food safety plan digitally? Yes. This generator gives you a free PDF to start with, and FoodSafety HQ can run the whole plan digitally, so temperature logs, cleaning sign-offs and corrective actions are recorded on a phone or tablet and stored automatically for inspections.
How to use the Food Safety Plan Generator
Enter your business type, the kinds of food you handle and your main processes (receiving, storage, cooking, cooling, display).
Review the generated plan sections covering hazards, temperature controls, cleaning and sanitising, and monitoring.
Adjust any details so the plan matches how your kitchen actually operates.
Download the free PDF, then print it, display the checklists and brief your team.
Revisit and update the plan whenever your menu, equipment or processes change.
Frequently asked questions
What is a food safety plan?
A food safety plan is a written document that sets out the food safety hazards in your business and how you control them, including temperature limits, cleaning, and how you monitor and record everything. It gives staff clear procedures and shows council you manage food safety systematically.
Is a food safety plan the same as a Food Safety Program?
Not exactly. A Food Safety Program is a formal, often auditable document that some higher-risk businesses are required to have under state law. A food safety plan is the broader practical framework of controls; this tool helps you document that framework, but check your state or council requirements for whether a formal accredited program is also needed.
What temperatures should my food safety plan control?
The plan should keep potentially hazardous food out of the temperature danger zone of 5C to 60C. Cold food should be kept at or below 5C and hot food at or above 60C, with cooked food cooled from 60C to 21C within two hours and from 21C to 5C within a further four hours.
Do I legally need a written food safety plan?
Requirements vary by state and by the type of food business, so check with your local council. Even where a formal program is not mandated, a written plan is strongly recommended because it demonstrates due diligence and makes inspections far smoother.
How often should I update my food safety plan?
Review it at least once a year, and update it sooner whenever you change your menu, add equipment, or alter a process such as how you cool or store food. Keeping it current ensures it reflects the actual hazards in your kitchen.
Can I manage my food safety plan digitally?
Yes. This generator gives you a free PDF to start with, and FoodSafety HQ can run the whole plan digitally, so temperature logs, cleaning sign-offs and corrective actions are recorded on a phone or tablet and stored automatically for inspections.