Victoria-based wholesalers Ontrack Pty Ltd has recalled a batch of Walkers Chocolates of London Milk Chocolate Selection Fruit and Nut Selection due to undeclared brazil nuts and almonds. Food Standards Australia New Zealand has advised consumers with a brazil nut and/or almond allergy or intolerance not to consume this product. The product, imported from the UK, has been available to buy from Kmart stores nationally and is packaged in a 450g plastic jar. The products in question have a Best Before... ...Read more »

Kiss Kiss Food Products Pty Ltd has recalled all varieties of Kiss Kiss Pastizzi baked goods from independent supermarkets in Western Australia due to undeclared soy. According to Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), the recalled products contain undeclared soy (an allergen) due to the manufacturer changing the product specifications. The Kiss Kiss Pastizzi products with the following flavours have been recalled: Bonza Bacon and Ricotta, Cheeky Curry Chicken, Funky Fetta, Perfect Pizza,... ...Read more »

The Australian Food and Grocery Council, together with not-for-profit barcode standards body GS1 Australia, have called for industry support for their new smartphone app, GS1 GoScan, which will allow extended labelling of products via barcode scanning by consumers. Initially available for iPhone, GoScan has the capacity to list accurately a large amount of “real time” product data to consumers, including ingredients, nutritional content, RDI information, dietary statuses such as Kosher/Halal/Organic... ...Read more »

Lindt has recalled its 16g Lindor Milk Easter Egg after some of the products were found to have been filled with peanut butter instead of the labelled milk filling. The mislabelled eggs, which have a best before of 30 June 2011, have been distributed nationally through supermarkets and department stores, and are included in a large variety of Lindt’s Easter offerings, including the Lindt Lindor Assorted Egg Bags and Egg Tubes, the Lindt Gold Bunny and Friends Cube and Tin Tube, and Lindt Lindor... ...Read more »

Coles Supermarkets has announced a recall of its Coles Bakery Fresh Mars Cookies 6 pack, which may have been contaminated with undeclared peanuts and tree nuts. The recall applies only to the 6-pack, with Baked On and Best Before dates from 25 October to 22 December. Coles apologised for any inconvenience, and said that any products can be returned to Coles for a full refund  Read More →

An expert panel sponsored by the US’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, has issued comprehensive US guidelines to assist health care professionals in diagnosing food allergy and managing the care of people with the disease. The Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Food Allergy in the United States: Report of the NIAID-sponsored Expert Panel, developed over two years, are intended for use by both family practice... ...Read more »

A new study estimates that 2.5 percent of the United States population, or about 7.6 million Americans, have food allergies. Food allergy rates were found to be higher for children, non-Hispanic black people, and men, according to the researchers. The odds of male black children having food allergies were 4.4 times higher than others in the general population. The research, which was funded by the National Institutes of Health and appears in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, is the... ...Read more »

A new food allergen guide by Anaphylaxis Australia to help restaurants and cafes provide safe foods for people with food allergies has been applauded by the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) today. Produced with support of the Coeliac Society and health experts, the new Allergy Guide Safer Meal Service contains practical steps to ensure meals prepared in eateries are safe by understanding what food allergens are present and helping customers make safe choices. AFGC Chief Executive Kate Carnell... ...Read more »

The NSW Food Authority has announced its support of last week’s Food Allergy Awareness Week, 16-22 May, in an effort to remind consumers and industry of the importance of understanding the role of food labels in protecting against allergic reaction. “The Food Act and Food Standards Code also requires all food businesses in NSW, including cafes and restaurants, to provide information about the ingredients contained in their food,” said NSW Food Authority CEO Alan Coutts. Food businesses... ...Read more »

Heinz Australia is undertaking a precautionary recall of the Heinz BBQ Sauce with Honey & Black Pepper. A small batch of this product was incorrectly labelled and consequently does not declare the presence of wheat and soy. The recall applies only to Heinz BBQ Sauce with Honey & Black Pepper, batch code 3248, best before 19/11/10. Customers are asked to return the product to the point of purchase for immediate full refund. Name of Product: Heinz BBQ Sauce with Honey and Black Pepper Package... ...Read more »