THE HON TRISH WORTH MP
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for
Health and Ageing
28 February 2003
AUSTRALIA’S FOOD SUPPLY GETS CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH
Australia’s food supply is one of the safest and cleanest in the world, according to results of the 20th Australian Total Diet Survey released today.
Parliamentary Secretary on Health, Trish Worth, said the survey reaffirms that the food supply in Australia is safe and clean and meets Australian and international health standards.
Ms Worth said the survey showed that Australia’s food supply is very low in pesticide residues, contaminants and other substances such as metals, aflatoxins and antibiotic residues.
The survey, conducted by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is part of the monitoring process of the food supply undertaken by the Federal Government to ensure the protection of consumer health and safety.
A total of 65 commonly eaten foods were tested. These foods were representative of the Australian diet and included a range of meats, dairy products, fruit, vegetables, breads and cereals.
Samples were taken in each State and the Northern Territory over a 9 month period. Both raw and cooked foods were prepared as ‘table-ready’, and were analysed by the Australian Government Analytical Laboratories.
“Key results showed that the estimated dietary intake of pesticide residues and contaminants are well within acceptable health standards,” Ms Worth said.
“In addition, there were no detections of either aflatoxins or ochratoxin A in nut and cereal products, the foods in which they are most likely to be found. The tests also found no antibiotic residues detected in any meat and poultry products, dairy products or eggs.
‘This diet survey not only helps to reassure Australian consumers of the food they are buying, but also our overseas markets of the safety of the Australian food supply.”
Results of the survey will be provided to the World Health Organisation as Australia’s contribution to the Global Environmental Monitoring System that collects data on the levels of pesticide residues and contaminants in the food supply worldwide.
The 20th Australian Total Diet Survey publication and additional background information is available on FSANZ’s website: www.foodstandards.gov.au A limited number of hard copies are also available by sending an email to: info@foodstandards.gov.au.
Media contacts: Mark Williams, Office of Ms Worth, 0401 147 558
Vicki Pow, FSANZ, 02 6271 2621 or 0412 530 494
BACKGROUND
- The Australian Total Diet Survey (ATDS) estimates the dietary exposure (intake) of the Australian population to a range of pesticide residues, contaminants and other substances that can be found in the food supply.
- The foods examined in the ATDS were prepared to a ‘table ready’ state before they were analysed. A wide variety of commonly available foods were selected. Both raw and cooked foods were examined.
- FSANZ coordinated the survey while the States and the Northern Territory purchased and organised the preparation of the food samples. The Australian Government Analytical Laboratories conducted all the analyses.
- Sixty-five types of foods representative of the Australian diet were tested for pesticide residues, contaminants and other substances from foods sampled at four different times throughout the year to account for seasonal differences.
- Food types included core foods, foods that might be expected to show regional variation (regional foods) and foods that are available nationwide and are not expected to show regional variation (national foods).
- All foods were screened for pesticide residues, including chlorinated organic pesticides, organophosphorus pesticides, synthetic pyrethroids, carbamates and fungicides. Foods were also screened for metals that occur in the environment, antimony, arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, selenium, tin and zinc.
- Breads, biscuits, rice, oats, processed wheat bran, breakfast cereals (including infant cereal), instant coffee, peanut butter, almonds and milk chocolate were tested for aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1 and G2) and ochratoxin A.|
- A range of meats, dairy products, eggs, offal meat and infant formula were tested for inhibitory substances (penicillin G, streptomycin and oxytetracycline).
- Dietary exposures were estimated for six age–gender groups. These age-gender groups were infants (9 months), toddlers (2 years), girls (12 years), boys (12 years), adult females (25-34 years), and adult males (25-34 years).
Key results:
- The estimated dietary exposure to pesticide residues were all within acceptable Australian and international health standards.
- The estimated dietary exposures to antimony, arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, copper, selenium, zinc and tin were within acceptable health standards. Improved analytical techniques with a lower limit of reporting for antimony and mercury were instituted for this survey and as a result a more refined dietary exposure estimate for these contaminants was achieved than in the 19th survey.
- Aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1 and G2) and ochratoxin A were not found in any food tested, namely: breads, biscuits, rice, oats, processed wheat bran, breakfast cereals (including infant cereal), instant coffee, peanut butter, almonds and milk chocolate.
- A range of meats, dairy products, eggs, offal meat and infant formula were tested for inhibitory substances (penicillin G, streptomycin and oxytetracycline). These substances were not detected in any of these foods.
- Both this report and the detailed supplementary information can be downloaded from the FSANZ website at www.foodstandards.gov.au .