Food Safety in our Centres

Food is a foundation for children’s growth and wellbeing. Every meal and snack is carefully prepared and served to keep children safe and support healthy habits. That’s why we go beyond standard food safety practices to make sure every bite is handled with care.

Keeping Every Child Safe, Every Meal

Managing allergies and intolerances is a top safety priority across our centres. That’s why:

Every child’s allergies, intolerances, and food preferences are discreetly visible in the kitchen and meal areas and shared with the whole team
Our permanent educators supervise mealtimes to ensure these needs are always carefully managed, so children can enjoy meals safely
Potential allergens are not permitted to be brought into the centre by the team, families, children or visitors.

We do this because a safe eating environment isn’t just about avoiding risks, it’s about giving children confidence to explore new foods.

Mealtimes Designed for Comfort and Safety

We keep mealtimes calm and consistent, with a structured routine that helps children feel secure.

Babies are safely seated in age-appropriate chairs or on an educator’s lap, keeping them secure while allowing them to engage with their surroundings
Children have access to chairs and tables that are the right size for them, supporting their safety and independence.
Fresh drinking water is always available
Educators show children how to practise good hygiene, guiding them to build healthy habits while keeping mealtimes safe and welcoming.

For babies, mealtimes are opportunities to grow and explore. Working closely with families, we introduce foods gradually – from purees to lumpy solids to regular textures – so babies can safely develop at their own pace.

Educators are there to support each step, making the transition to solids a positive experience.

Setting the Highest Standards in Food Safety

Food safety is at the heart of everything we do, from the moment ingredients arrive at the centre to the last meal being served. Our kitchens follow a carefully designed, stringent food safety program, identifying potential risks and taking clear steps to manage them.

Every centre has a qualified food safety supervisor who understands all relevant food safety legislation, including the Australian Food Safety Standards. Training must be undertaken through our national training provider, Australian Institute of Food Safety.  

The Food Safety Supervisor is responsible for identifying, preventing, and managing food safety hazards and ensuring their centre complies with all regulations. 

Regular audits are conducted to ensure every Guardian centre consistently meets, and exceeds, food safety requirements. 

At Guardian, food safety isn’t just about compliance – it’s about peace of mind. Families can trust that every meal is carefully handled, prepared by skilled Chefs and Cooks, and served in a safe, clean environment.