What a food control plan is#

A food control plan (FCP) is a legal document. It explains how meal providers keep food safe and suitable to eat.

Food control plans set out the processes businesses follow and the records they keep to meet food safety requirements. It also outlines what verifiers will look for when they visit.

Meal providers in the Healthy School Lunches programme must register their food control plan each year and complete regular verifications to show their plan is being followed.

Why an FCP is important#

Unsafe food can make students sick. A food control plan helps protect both suppliers and students by reducing the risk of foodborne illness.

Foodborne diseases reported in Aotearoa include:

• Campylobacteriosis
• Cryptosporidiosis
• giardiasis
• Hepatitis A
• Listeriosis
• Salmonella enterocolitis
• Shigellosis
• Enterohaemorrhagic E. coli infection
• Yersiniosis,

Symptoms can range from mild to serious, lasting hours, days, or even weeks. Following safe food practices helps minimise these risks.

What an FCP requires#

Each topic in a food control plan has 3 parts.

1. Know: Why the topic matters for food safety and how to meet the requirements.
2. Do: The actions required to comply with food safety law.
3. Show: What a verifier will expect to see, including any records that must be kept.

You’ll see these sections throughout the plan, along with clear guidance on which records need to be maintained.

This also includes guidance for schools and kura that grow their own fruit or vegetables for students to eat.

Download the food control plan#

Other helpful templates and information#

Top 5 food safety practices poster – MPI [PDF, 624KB]