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Call for comment on an oligosaccharide in infant formula
Call for comment on an oligosaccharide in infant formula Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for comment on an application to allow a new production method for a permitted oligosaccharide added to infant formula products. FSANZ Chief Executive Officer Mark Booth said the application is seeking to permit the voluntary addition of the oligosaccharide 2²fucosyllactose (2²-FL) produced by microbial fermentation using a new genetically modified (GM) production strain. “2²-FL is a non-digestible carbohydrate, or oligosaccharide, found naturally in human milk that can be produced using microbial fermentation. “Currently, the Australian New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code) includes permissions for 2²-FL to be used as a nutritive substance in infant formula products at a maximum permitted level…
Published December 2023
Call for comment on an urgent proposal to prohibit the retail sale of pure and highly concentrated caffeine products
Call for comment on an urgent proposal to prohibit the retail sale of pure and highly concentrated caffeine products Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for public comment on an urgent Proposal to prohibit the retail sale of pure and highly concentrated caffeine food products in Australia and New Zealand. The proposal follows a review conducted by FSANZ in August 2019 which found the availability of pure caffeine for retail sale poses an unacceptably high risk to consumers, and should be prohibited. FSANZ CEO Mark Booth said the urgent proposal reflects a significant amount of work, including a thorough risk assessment carried out by FSANZ over the past few months. “Our risk assessment confirmed pure or highly purified forms of caffeine pose an unacceptably…
Published December 2023
Call for comment on Cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) as a processing aid
Call for comment on Cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) as a processing aid Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for comment on an application to permit the use of a new processing aid for the antimicrobial treatment of raw poultry. FSANZ Interim Chief Executive Officer Dr Sandra Cuthbert said FSANZ had completed an assessment of the effectiveness and safety of the processing aid cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC). “Our assessment found that CPC is an effective antimicrobial agent for the treatment of raw, skin-on poultry, and there are no health and safety concerns associated with its use as a processing aid,” Dr Cuthbert said. CPC has been approved for use in a number of other countries. If permitted for use in Australia and New Zealand, it will provide the poultry meat industry with an…
Published December 2023
Call for comment on combination of permitted oligosaccharides in infant formula
Call for comment on combination of permitted oligosaccharides in infant formula Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for comment on an application to allow the combination of three permitted oligosaccharides in infant formula products. FSANZ CEO Dr Sandra Cuthbert said the Application is seeking to amend the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code) to permit the combination of the oligosaccharide 2²-fucosyllactose (2²-FL) with galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) and/or inulin-type fructans (ITF). “All three ingredients are already permitted for use in infant formula products individually. However, the safety and tolerance of them in combination has not previously been assessed by FSANZ and is currently prohibited in the Code,' Dr Cuthbert said. “FSANZ's safety…
Published December 2023
Call for comment on food made from a genetically modified wheat
Call for comment on food made from a genetically modified wheat Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for comment on an application to allow the sale and use of food made from a genetically modified (GM) wheat. FSANZ interim CEO Dr Sandra Cuthbert said the application seeks approval to permit food derived from wheat line IND-00412-7 which has been genetically modified to provide drought and herbicide tolerance. “If approved, food made from this type of GM wheat could be imported into Australia and New Zealand in products including flour, bread, pasta and biscuits.' Dr Cuthbert said. “Our safety assessment found no potential public health and safety concerns with this variety of GM wheat. It is as safe as non-GM wheat varieties.' A safety assessment forms part of the approval process for all GM applications.…
Published December 2023
Call for comment on food made from a new genetically modified canola
Call for comment on food made from a new genetically modified canola Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for comment on an application to allow food from a new genetically modified (GM) canola. The application seeks approval to permit food derived from canola line LBFLFK which has been genetically modified to produce omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) and for tolerance to imidazolinone herbicides. If approved, the canola could be imported into Australia and New Zealand as refined oil or as an ingredient within a food. FSANZ CEO Dr Sandra Cuthbert said the oil could be used as an ingredient in food products to provide an alternative source of dietary omega-3 LC-PUFAs, which are not found in measurable levels in non-GM canola. “Our safety assessment found no potential…
Published December 2023
Call for comment on harmonisation of marine biotoxin standards for bivalve shellfish
Call for comment on harmonisation of marine biotoxin standards for bivalve shellfish Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for comment on an applicationto harmonise maximum levels (MLs) for marine biotoxins in bivalve shellfish. FSANZ CEO Dr Sandra Cuthbert said the application seeks tolower theMLs in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards code (the Code) for two marine biotoxins - diarrhetic shellfish toxins and paralytic shellfish toxins - to align with international and New Zealand standards. “Marine biotoxins cause serious and sometimes long term toxicity in humans so setting MLs for their presence in shellfish is critical to ensuring food safety,” Dr Cuthbert said. “Our assessment supported the applicant's request and will harmonise the Code's standards with…
Published December 2023
Call for comment on irradiation of fruits and vegetables
Call for comment on irradiation of fruits and vegetables Food Standards Australia New Zealand is calling for comment on an application to irradiate fresh fruit and vegetables. FSANZ CEO Mark Booth said the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries has applied for permission to irradiate fresh fruit and vegetables as a way to stop the spread of pests like fruit fly when food is moved across quarantine borders. “Fruit fly is an ongoing threat to the horticulture industry, both here in Australia, New Zealand and internationally. “Australian quarantine laws mean food produced in an area where there are known pests, must be treated before they can be sent internationally or to states or territories that have quarantine restrictions. “Irradiation has a long history of safe use and is used in many countries around the world…
Published December 2023
Call for comment on new food safety management standards
Call for comment on new food safety management standards Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is seeking public comment on proposed new food safety management standards for food service and retail businesses. Interim FSANZ CEO Dr Sandra Cuthbert said the proposed amendments to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code) were designed to strengthen food safety management practices and introduce nationally consistent, risk-proportionate standards to reduce rates of foodborne illness. “The food services sector is vitally important to the Australian economy and our way of life,' Dr Cuthbert said. “The majority of businesses do an excellent job in providing Australians with safe food, however our assessment of food safety management practices in the sector has found a need for strengthened standards to…
Published December 2023
Call for comment on new sources for enzyme processing aids
Call for comment on new sources for enzyme processing aids Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for comment on three applications to allow new enzyme processing aids from genetically-modified (GM) microbial sources. FSANZ CEO Dr Sandra Cuthbert said the applications seek approval to permit the use of three different enzymes; endo-1,4-beta-xylanase enzyme (gene donor Talaromyces leycettanus), alpha-arabinofuranosidase enzyme (gene donor Talaromyces pinophilus) both sourced from GM Trichoderma reesei and the carboxypeptidase enzyme sourced from Aspergillus oryzae. “Trichoderma reesei and Aspergillus oryzae have a long history of safe use as a source of enzyme processing aids,…
Published December 2023