The Cancer Council of New South Wales has published online a list of the food advertising that occurs during children’s favorite television programming. The online list at a specific website (http://www.fatfreetv.com.au/) has been dubbed a “Fat Free TV Guide” by the Cancel Council which recommends the list be used by parents to filter their children’s selections of programs. Parents are being encouraged by the Cancer Council “to make better viewing choices with television shows that have... ...Read more »

New food safety legislation which requires restaurants, cafes, pubs and clubs to have a Food Safety Supervisor has been rolled out across the State of New South Wales. Food Safety Supervisors are required to be trained to prevent hazards associated with handling and preparing food. Any retail food business in New South Wales that does not appoint a Food Safety Supervisor will be subject to fines. Commenting on the new law, Federal Minister for Primary Industries Katrina Hodgkinson said, “Incorrect... ...Read more »

NSW Primary Industries Minister, Steve Whan, has called for those impacted by the devastating flood events across NSW to be mindful of food safety during and following the emergency.”We now have 30 Local Government Areas placed under Natural Disaster Declarations as a result of widespread flood action in NSW,” said Mr Whan. “It is therefore important to remember that floodwaters can be contaminated with sewage,agricultural and industrial waste or any number of other things that... ...Read more »

A Dominos pizza store in Quakers Hill has been fined $116,000 and its director $13,500 for multiple breaches of the NSW Food Act, Primary Industries Minister Steve Whan said today. “This is a very significant fine and represents one of the worst examples of food safety and hygiene breaches that we’ve seen in this state,” Minister Whan said. “The Court found that the Dominos store and its director were guilty of a sustained and ongoing disregard for the cleanliness, maintenance... ...Read more »

The NSW Food Authority’s Scores on Doors initiative, an Australian first in delivering a standardised, state-wide system to rate the food safety and hygiene standards of foodservice businesses, is being developed in close consultation with industry and local government, NSW Food Authority CEO Alan Coutts said today. “The purpose of the Scores on Doors initiative is to benefit the consumer and drive up standards in the food industry,” Coutts said. “This is about improving transparency... ...Read more »

New South Wales Premier Kristina Kenneally yesterday announced that menus for fast-food outlets across NSW will be required to display kilojoule information on their printed and menu boards, as of February 1st 2011. Businesses such as major fast food, bakery, coffee and doughnut chains will now be required to ‘clearly and legibly’ display the kilojoule content on their menu board, as well as prominently featuring the average adult daily energy intake of 8700 kilojoules. The kilojoule... ...Read more »

NSW Primary Industries Minister, Steve Whan, has announced that dining out is set to become even safer, with the Food Safety Supervisor law moving into its next phase on Friday October 1. “The 12-month implementation period for certain food businesses to appoint their own Food Safety Supervisor, trained to ensure safe food handling practices begins tomorrow,” said Mr Whan. “Poor food handling accounts for over a third of foodborne illness outbreaks in NSW, and costs the community... ...Read more »

An Albury takeaway restaurant has been fined following a salmonella outbreak that resulted in more than 170 people falling ill after eating food from the Albury Burger Bar, Minister Steve Whan said today. “Investigations conducted by the NSW Food Authority have determined the cause of the outbreak to be a raw egg aioli product that was contaminated with salmonella,” Minister Whan said. “The product in question was sold from the premises between the 14th and 17th of January this... ...Read more »

Food giant Cargill has announced a $13 million dollar plan to upgrade the wastewater treatment system of its Wagga Wagga beef processing facility, in order to fully capture biogas emitted during treatment, in a move designed to reduce the facility’s carbon footprint by over 17% and significantly improve the facility’s water discharge quality. The project is being implemented in partnership with the NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (DECCW) who contributed AU$ 2.9 million... ...Read more »

NSW Premier Kristina Keneally yesterday convened the NSW Government’s fast food forum, which includes key policy makers, health representatives, consumer advocates, and fast food producers, manufacturers and suppliers, to discuss food content, labelling and point-of-sale nutritional information. “I would like to thank both health and consumer advocates, and the fast food industry for participating in today’s NSW fast food forum,” Keneally said. “This is a great opportunity to work with... ...Read more »