Senator Grant Tambling
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Aged Care
Under Embargo until 1.00pm Wednesday 18 April 2001
Australia's Food Supply Gets A Clean Bill Of Health
An Australia New Zealand Food Authority survey of the Australian diet has found that our food supply remains low in pesticides and heavy metal contaminants and well within Australian and international health standards.
Speaking at the launch of the findings of the 19th Australian Total Diet Survey in Alice Springs today, Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Aged Care, Senator Grant Tambling, said the latest survey results re-affirmed Australia's status as a producer of safe and clean foods.
'The overall conclusion of the 19th Australian Total Diet Survey is that Australian food is low in pesticides and heavy metal contaminants.
'This confirms the widely held view that Australian produced foods are among the world's cleanest.'
The Nineteenth Australian Total Diet Survey (ATDS) was conducted by the Australia New Zealand Food Authority. The ATDS was formerly known as the Australian Market Basket Survey, which began testing foods in 1970.
The survey examined 69 commonly eaten foods such as meat, seafood, milk, fruit and vegetables and processed foods like bread. Samples were taken from each State and Territory over a 12-month period.
Foods were prepared to a ready-to-eat state and analysed by the Australian Government Analytical Laboratories. The findings were then used to estimate Australians' dietary exposure to pesticide residues and contaminants.
'The Australian Total Diet Survey is a critical checkpoint in the assurance of a safe food supply in Australia,' Senator Tambling said:
'By scientifically monitoring contaminant levels in the food supply we can assure the safety of Australian consumers through the maintenance of a clean food supply, and at the same time ensure the continuation of our clean food status in export markets.'
The 19th Australian Total Diet Survey publication and additional background information is available on ANZFA’s website: www.foodstandards.gov.au Hard copies can be obtained by sending an email to: info@foodstandards.gov.au
A video news release of this event will be sent by satellite to newsrooms in Sydney and Melbourne at 2pm on Wednesday