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FSANZ risk assessment on antibiotic use in New Zealand apples

FSANZ risk assessment on antibiotic use in New Zealand apples (13 May 2011) FSANZ has completed a risk assessment on the use of antimicrobials in some New Zealand apple orchards in response to concerns about possible health and safety risks. The antimicrobial, streptomycin is used in a small proportion of New Zealand apple orchards (about five per cent) to control the plant disease fire blight. Following its risk assessment FSANZ has concluded there is a negligible food safety concern. This view has been confirmed by internationally recognised experts in the field of antimicrobial resistance, who have peer-reviewed the FSANZ assessment. Key points from the risk assessment:

• Only a small proportion of apple orchards in New Zealand are treated with streptomycin during each growing season (less than five per cent in 2009-…

  Published December 2023

Assessment of Trans Fatty Acids in Imported Oils

Assessment of Trans Fatty Acids in Imported Oils In 2015, FSANZ presented a technical evaluation in response to Recommendation 13 from the Review of Food Labelling Law and Policy (mandatory declaration of trans-fatty acids (TFA) in the nutrition information panel) to the Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation (Forum). The technical evaluation reported results from an analytical survey of TFA levels in 500 foods purchased in Australia and New Zealand which found that TFA levels were generally low. A dietary intake assessment of TFAs found that intakes were below the World Health Organization's recommended level of 1% dietary energy in both Australia and New Zealand. Based on the outcomes of the technical evaluation FSANZ advised that mandatory labelling of TFAs did not appear warranted. The…

Published December 2023

Auditing the Australian Food Composition Program

Auditing the Australian Food Composition Program (February 2009) This audit was conducted under the framework of the FSANZ science Strategy 2006-2009 to ensure that FSANZ's work is:

• Carried out with integrity, transparency and objectivity and performance evaluated through measurement of the quality and effectiveness of FSANZ scientific outputs.
• Soundly supported by the following principles and elements: performance, integrity, leadership, collaboration, international linkages improvement and responsiveness.

Published December 2023

Australian Pilot Survey of GM Food Labelling of Corn and Soy Food Products

Australian Pilot Survey of GM Food Labelling of Corn and Soy Food Products (2003) Summary Following commencement of the genetically modified (GM) food labelling requirements of Standard 1.5.2, of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code , (in December 2001) a small preliminary examination in the form of an Australian pilot survey of corn and soy derived food products was undertaken to ascertain:

• how food businesses are adapting to the need to comply with the GM food labelling provisions of Standard 1.5.2, which require food products which are GM or contain GM ingredients to be labelled, and the consequential need to determine the GM status of ingredients used in their products; and
• the usefulness of document surveys to regulatory authorities in determining compliance or non-compliance with the mandatory GM food…

  Published December 2023

Compendium of Microbiological Criteria for Food

Compendium of Microbiological Criteria for Food Page last updated: December 2022 Microbiological testing can play an important role in food safety management providing the reason for testing is clear and the test applied is appropriate. Microbiological criteria support decision making about a food or process when microbiological testing is used. A microbiological criterion provides microbiological limits that are considered appropriate to a food at a specific point of the food chain and states the actions to be taken when the criterion is not met. Microbiological criteria that are applied to determine the safety of a food lot (food safety criteria) are included in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code). Other microbiological criteria (process hygiene criteria) can be developed and applied at…

Published December 2023

Consumer Attitudes Survey 2007: A benchmark survey of consumers attitudes to food issues (2007)

Consumer Attitudes Survey 2007: A benchmark survey of consumers attitudes to food issues (2007) (July 2017) In 2006, FSANZ commissioned TNS Social Research to conduct a baseline survey to establish the current views of Australian and New Zealand consumers with regard to overall confidence in the food supply. This overall confidence was assessed in terms of behaviour, attitudes and confidence in eating at home, eating out, labelling of food products and the organisations playing a role in the regulation and monitoring of the food supply. A total of 2000 respondents completed the survey, 1200 in Australia and 800 in New Zealand. File Consumer Attitudes Survey 2007…

Published December 2023

Consumer Awareness, Attitudes and Behaviours to Fortified Foodsqualitative research (2010)

Consumer Awareness, Attitudes and Behaviours to Fortified Foodsqualitative research (2010) (July 2017) In 2009, FSANZ commissioned Ipsos-Eureka Social Research Institute to investigate a range of issues around public awareness, attitudes and behaviours towards fortified foods in Australia and New Zealand. Using 10 group discussions and eight accompanied shopping trips, specific information about consumers' awareness and understanding of folic acid and iodine were sought. The research also investigated understanding of food regulations in both countries, and how mandating fortification of some products may be received in communities. Participants came from both metropolitan and non-metropolitan locations and included a range of age groups, family backgrounds and levels of interest in health…

Published December 2023

Consumer Research Investigating the Use of Formulated Supplementary Sports Foods

Consumer Research Investigating the Use of Formulated Supplementary Sports Foods (August 2010) In 2010, Colmar Brunton Research was commissioned by FSANZ to conduct research investigating the cognitive and behaviour approaches to purchasing and consuming sports foods and sports drinks. The findings inform the risk analysis processes required in the review of Standard 2.9.4 Formulated Supplementary Sports Foods. A series of ten 90 minute face-to-face focus groups, with segmented groups, were conducted across Australia and New Zealand. Participant groups included: people consuming sports foods and drinks and engaging in physical activity; people not engaging in physical activity and still consuming sports foods and sports drinks; and parents of children (aged under 15 years) consuming sports products. The key…

Published December 2023

Consumers and Allergen Labelling

Consumers and Allergen Labelling (March 2021) This report reviews and summarises the existing literature on consumer knowledge, attitudes and behaviours relating to allergen declarations and precautionary allergen or advisory labelling (PAL). Allergen declarations refers to required information on food packaging where certain allergens are present (e.g. in the ingredient list and/or a 'contains' statement), while PAL and advisory labelling refers to statements that indicate the possible presence of allergens as a consequence of allergen cross-contact. The review looked at 37 studies which were published between January 2000 and August 2020 for allergen declarations and January 2000 and November 2019 for PAL. The genesis of this report was a face-to-face workshop of the International Social science Liaison Group (ISSLG) hosted by…

Published December 2023

Consumers' awareness, attitudes and behaviours towards food fortification in Australia and New Zealand - survey (2013)

Consumers' awareness, attitudes and behaviours towards food fortification in Australia and New Zealand - survey (2013)   In 2013, FSANZ commissioned Newspoll to conduct a population survey of Australians and New Zealanders to understand their awareness, attitudes and behaviours toward food fortification. Using computer assisted telephone interviewing, the survey included a range of question formats, including: single response; multiple response and open-ended. In total there were 800 Australian and 802 New Zealand respondents. The research was commissioned after the gazettal of Proposals P295 - Consideration of Mandatory Fortification with Folic Acid, P230 - Iodine Fortification, and P1003 - Mandatory Iodine Fortification for Australia. The Ministerial Council agreed that the standards needed to be monitored to assess the…

Published December 2023