The FSANZ Consumer and Public Health Dialogue (CPHD) provides a means by which FSANZ can engage in deeper and more meaningful consultation with peak consumer and public health bodies and academics. The objective is to improve FSANZ's awareness and understanding of community food and health issues; public priorities and through this communication, provide a more effective food regulatory response.
Member organisations
- Alcohol Change Australia
- Australian Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance
- Australian Department of Health, Disability Ageing
- Cancer Council Australia
- Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care
- Consumer New Zealand
- Consumers' Federation of Australia
- Dietitians Australia
- Flinders University
- Food for Health Alliance
- Foodbank
- Implementation Subcommittee for Food Regulation
- Indigenous Allied Health Australia
- Massey University New Zealand
- New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries
- New Zealand Ministry of Health
- Public Health Association of Australia
- The George Institute for Global Health
- The Heart Foundation
- University of Wollongong
Committee Highlights
CPHD41 - Committee Highlights August
The Consumer and Public Health Dialogue (CPHD) met on 18 August, chaired by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) CEO Dr Sandra Cuthbert. The CPHD provides a forum for two-way engagement and information sharing between FSANZ and consumer and public health representatives.
CPHD held its 41st meeting, bringing members together to discuss key public health and food regulation priorities across Australia and New Zealand.
The Chair welcomed new members and acknowledged the valuable contributions of departing representatives from Dietitians Australia, Indigenous Allied Health Australia and The George Institute for Global Health.
Updates
CPHD members received updates from the Australian Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries and FSANZ. FSANZ provided updates on current and upcoming activities, including the Digital Food Labelling Program and the FSANZ 2030 Roadmap. Members are encouraged to share relevant current and planned research work that aligns with FSANZ’s roadmap priorities.
Updates were also provided by the Public Health Association of Australia, the Heart Foundation, the Consumers Federation of Australia and the University of Wollongong. These covered a range of public health initiatives, emerging research and key issues of interest, including public health conferences, food labelling guidance and ongoing nutrition and consumer health research.
Discussion
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry provided a presentation on the National Food Security Strategy, which is being developed to strengthen the resilience of Australia's food system.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics presented findings from the 2023 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey. The presentation focused on the dietary intake and health behaviours from more than 11,000 Australians surveyed.
OzHarvest presented on the impact of date labelling on household food waste. They shared initiatives focused on improving consumer understanding and reducing avoidable food waste through education, behaviour change and potential changes to improve date labelling.
Collectively, these discussions highlighted challenges and opportunities across the food system, including food affordability, nutrition, food safety and the need for contemporary data to understand changing consumer behaviours and dietary patterns.
Other business
Members reflected on opportunities to continue to strengthen CPHD meetings, including increasing New Zealand representation, continuing in-depth discussions supported by subject matter experts and government agency representatives, flexible membership arrangements based on agenda topics, and supporting in-person meetings where possible.
The next CPHD meeting is scheduled for 17 November and will be the committee’s final meeting for the year.
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