Australian consumer advocacy group Choice has made a submission to Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) claiming that its draft changes to Australia’s nutrition and health claims standard would create a labelling loophole allowing manufacturers to make health claims on unhealthy products. According to Choice, the rules proposed in FSANZ’s consultation would mean that whilst manufacturers cannot make a ‘percentage fat free’ claim, they could re-word the claim to ‘percentage fat’... ...Read more »

Following an incident involving contamination of a snack on-board a Qantas flight this week, manufacturer, The Sydney Biscuit Company, has issued a media statement. The Sydney Biscuit Company stressed that the company treats the integrity and quality of its branded products with the highest levels of importance and critical management. The affected product was an individual portion of Trail Mix manufactured by The Sydney Biscuit Company. The Sydney Biscuit Company’s CEO, Harvey Crabtree said, “This... ...Read more »

The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) has made a submission to FSANZ claiming that draft changes to Australia’s nutrition and health claims standard will “threaten the food industry’s future viability”. In its submission, the AFGC said that, under Food Standards Australia and New Zealand’s (FSANZ) proposed Nutrition, Health & Related Claims (P293) draft standard, many popular food products – which form part of a healthy, balanced diet – will not be able to include health... ...Read more »

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has rejected a petition filed by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) seeking a ban on bisphenol A (BpA) being used in food packaging in the US. The FDA said the petition failed to demonstrate the need for immediate regulatory action. In announcing its decision, the agency said that BpA, at current levels of exposure, is safe for use in food packaging. Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial chemical that has been present in many hard plastic bottles and... ...Read more »

Australia’s leading pie manufacturers are the latest to have “voluntarily” agreed to reduce salt levels in thier products over the next two years as part of the Australian Government’s Food and Health Dialogue. The Food and Health Dialogue, which comprises leading manufacturers and retailers as well as the Australian Government, met in Canberra on 23 March 2012 to discuss plans to reduce salt content in their food products. Savoury Pies Impacted The Dialogue is currently engaging the savoury... ...Read more »

Food Standards Australian New Zealand (FSANZ) has called for submissions on three proposed sets of changes to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. Nutritive Substances and Novel Foods: New approach FSANZ has released a consultation paper on a proposed new approach to regulating both ‘nutritive substances’ and ‘novel foods’. Under the current Food Standards Code, ‘nutritive substances’ are “foods that are not normally consumed as food on their own or used as an ingredient”,... ...Read more »

A proposal to amend the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, if brought to fruition, means so called “exotic meats” such as bison, emu and crocodile could be sold in Australian supermarkets within a year. Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), which administers the Code, has begun consulting on a proposal to change regulations for producers and processors of minor meat species and wild game. Meats covered by the proposal include buffalo, kangaroo, crocodile, rabbit, ostrich and emu. While... ...Read more »

Australian supermarket chain Woolworths has recalled two cupcake mixes from stores nationwide over fears they contain undeclared traces of milk and nuts following a labelling error. The products in question are Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe Devil’s Food Cupcakes (mix) and Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe Confetti Cupcakes (mix). Both products are available in Woolworths, Safeway, Food For Less, and Flemings Supermarkets nationwide. The products in question are sold in 255g red cardboard boxes. They are... ...Read more »

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is accepting submissions on an application for a processing aid to reduce the risk of the food poisoning bacteria Listeria. FSANZ Chief Executive Officer, Steve McCutcheon, said Micreos B.V (previously EBI Food Safety Ltd) had applied for permission to use a bacteriophage preparation called P100 as a processing aid for ready-to-eat foods to reduce levels of Listeria monocytogenes. FSANZ is proposing that P100 be approved for the surface treatment of solid... ...Read more »

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has advised consumers of two product recalls, including an imported rice snack that may contain glass. Vitaco Healtheries Kidscare Rice Wheels batch Vitaco Health Australia Pty Ltd has recalled batches of its imported rice snacks sold in NSW and interstate in Woolworths, Safeway and Coles supermarkets, independent retailers and online stores. The company said it has recalled the batches because of the “possible presence of glass pieces”. The recalled... ...Read more »