The Australian Government has launched a new website portal that provides links to best practice information on managing food allergies. The launch coincides with Food Allergy Awareness Week, which runs globally from 12-18 May 2013. The portal is a result of collaboration between Government, industry and consumer representatives and Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). Shayne Neummann, Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing launched the new website portal, saying that it would provide... ...Read more »

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that it will investigate the safety of caffeine in food products, particularly its effects on children and adolescents. The investigation is a response by the food safety authority to a growing trend in the US for caffeine-added food products, and the announcement came just weeks after confectionary company Wrigley’s began promoting a new chewing gum that contains caffeine. Launching the new caffeine-added gum, Alert Energy Caffeine Gum, in... ...Read more »

Leading food compliance consultants FoodLegal today announced a new program of intensive workshops. Bookings for the half day intensive workshops to be run in both Sydney and Melbourne began today. Registration forms are available here. There are two separate courses: 1. FoodLegal’s  ‘Swim between the flags’ workshop on marketing principles of compliance with Australian Consumer Law. One session each in Sydney and Melbourne Fri 24th May:  The RACV Club, 8.45am-1pm , 501 Bourke St, Melbourne Mon... ...Read more »

Global sales of natural colours overtook sales of artificial or synthetic colours for the first time in 2011, according to new research from global market researcher Mintel and global food researcher Leatherhead Food Research. In 2011, global sales of natural colours were almost US$600 million, up by almost 29 per cent on 2007, demonstrating an annual growth of more than 7 percent. The increase in sales means the overall food colours market share held by natural colours is up from 34 per cent in... ...Read more »

The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) has declared that Australian government fee increases by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) are “unacceptable.” FSANZ made silent increases to the fees it charges food manufacturers and importers to have a food product or ingredient approved from December 19, 2012, with some fees increasing as much as sixty per cent. FSANZ approval for a new product or ingredient already costs between $10,000 and $100,000 because food standard laws need... ...Read more »

Dairy company Binnorie has urged consumers of Duetto, in New South Wales, to return the product to its place of purchase, due to microbial (Listeria monocytogenes) contamination. Duetto is marketed as a savoury dessert style cheese, consisting of mascarpone and gorgonzola cheeses. FSANZ reported the recall yesterday, advising consumers who were concerned about their health to seek medical advice. All 140g clear plastic tubs with a Duetto label on the lid and marked with a Best Before date of 21 February... ...Read more »

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS), has published its draft re-evaluation of aspartame. Aspartame is used as an artificial sweetener to replace sugar in foods and drinks and although currently regarded as safe, when used to the permitted limits, has been widely discussed by Australian and international food authorities. The Panel’s draft re-evaluation report says that the current Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of 40 mg/kg bw/day... ...Read more »

FoodLegal, one of Australia’s leading specialist firms in Food Marketing Law Compliance, has announced it will now be running additional sessions for its Intensive Workshop on the new Health Claims Standard. Places for the 2 previously announced dates filled very quickly. To cope with increasing demand, FoodLegal has announced two additional workshops on 19 February in Sydney and 21 February in Melbourne. Get in fast to secure your place. Registration forms are available here. Session Dates   18th... ...Read more »

 Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), the agency responsible for setting food safety standards, has this week approved a number of important variations to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code or has proposed to do so. The affected industries include the beverages sector, the fish sector, and the dairy sector. More details are set out below: Australia adopts WHO standard for bottled water standard The Code has been varied to adopt World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines on... ...Read more »

Lenard’s Pty Ltd has recalled a range of minced chicken products available for sale in Lenard’s retail outlets in WA only, due to the presence of foreign matter (wood and metal). Customers should not eat these products and should return it to place of purchase for a full refund. Date notified to FSANZ: 3/12/2012 Product name: Range of minced chicken products available in various flavours/varieties Package description and size: The products of various sizes and flavours were sold unpackaged... ...Read more »