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General information about GM foods

General information about GM foods People have been manipulating the genetic make-up of plants and animals for countless generations. This is referred to as traditional cross breeding and involves selecting plants and animals with the most desirable characteristics (e.g. disease resistance, high yield, good meat quality) for breeding the next generation. Today's techniques use new ways of identifying particular characteristics and transferring them between living organisms. For example, it is now possible to make a copy of a particular gene from the cells of a plant, animal or microbe, and insert the copy into the cells of another organism to give a desired characteristic. Foods derived from genetically modified organisms are called 'GM foods'. All of the GM foods approved so far are from GM…

Published 28 August 2020

Report on food handling practices and microbiological quality of sushi in Australia,July 2008

Report on food handling practices and microbiological quality of sushi in Australia,July 2008 Report on food handling practices and microbiological quality of sushi in Australia, July 2008. 26pp, pdf KB Background A national coordinated survey from June 2006 to June 2007 determined the food handling practices and microbiological quality of retail sushi products. Sushi is normally regarded as a potentially hazardous food yet is often displayed and sold out of temperature control. Samples in the survey were tested for:

• chemical aspects - pH & water activity - of acidified rice
• microbiological quality indicators and pathogens present in sushi
• histamine levels in raw seafood

Published 21 May 2013

Pregnancy warning labels on alcoholic beverages

Pregnancy warning labels on alcoholic beverages Requirements for pregnancy warning labels on alcoholic beverages were gazetted in the Code on 31 July, 2020 with a three-year transition period ending on 31 July 2023. In addition, optional alternative requirements for pregnancy warning labels for corrugated cardboard outer packaging were gazetted in the Code on 4 May 2023.   Businesses have until 1 February 2024 to ensure post-printed corrugated carboard outer packaging, containing more than one individual unit of an alcoholic beverage, displays either the existing or optional alternative pregnancy warning label. Alcoholic beverages in such corrugated carboard outer packaging that is labelled before the end of the transition period (i.e. before 2 February 2024) may be sold without the…

Published 5 May 2023

Washing and sanitising produce

Washing and sanitising produce If you are a primary processor of leafy vegetables and melons, you must ensure washing and sanitising processes work properly and do not make the food unsafe to eat. What does washing and sanitisation mean?

• Washing fresh produce removes any visible material such as dirt.
• Sanitisation is an additional process that reduces microorganisms on the surface of produce to a safe level, usually with a chemical (e.g. food grade bleach). Sanitisation must only be done after washing, because dirt can make sanitisers less effective.

Published 21 October 2023

AUSNUT 2011-13 food details file

AUSNUT 2011-13 food details file The food details file contains non-nutrient information on the 5,740 foods for which nutrient data were prepared for AUSNUT 2011-13, to support the 2011-13 Australian Health Survey (AHS) as set out in Table 1.

• Access the AUSNUT 201113 Food Details File (1,050 Kb Excel)

Published 23 September 2014

AUSNUT 2011-13 dietary supplement database

AUSNUT 2011-13 dietary supplement database The AUSNUT 2011-13 dietary supplement database contains 35 nutrient values for 2,163 dietary supplements consumed during the 2011-12 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (NNPAS) and the 2012-13 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (NATSINPAS) components of the 2011-13 Australian Health Survey (AHS). The nutrient profiles of the dietary supplements reflect those available during this time period. For the purpose of the AHS, dietary supplements refer to products defined as Complementary Medicines under the Therapeutic Goods Regulations 1990 that are not intended for inhalation or use on the skin. They include products containing ingredients that are nutrients, such as…

Published 23 September 2014

Common food safety terms

Common food safety terms We have put together a list of common food safety terms and what they mean. Contaminant Something that shouldn't be in food and can make the food unsafe to eat. Examples are harmful chemicals, physical objects (e.g. glass, metal fragments) and microorganisms ('germs', bacteria, viruses, parasites - see definition below). Cross contamination When harmful microorganisms or chemicals spread between food, surfaces, hands or equipment. For example, if a cutting board used to prepare raw chicken is then used to prepare salad vegetables, microorganisms from the chicken juice on the board will spread to the salad. Because the salad won't be cooked, the microorganisms will not be killed before it is eaten. Environmental sample A small…

Published 22 December 2020

Regulatory Science Network

Regulatory Science Network   (August 2015)   FSANZ is a member of the Australian Government Regulatory Science Network (RSN). Established in 2011, the RSN is a network of Australian government agencies responsible for regulating chemicals (including radio-isotopes), biological agents, foods and/or therapeutic goods. The mission of the RSN is to strengthen regulatory science across government agencies by:

• Providing a forum where regulatory and technical issues can be discussed, thereby enhancing interagency cooperation;
• Promoting a consistent approach to evidence-based decision-making across regulatory agencies;
• Providing cross-agency training and profession development opportunities for agency scientific staff
• Enhancing cross-agency…

  Published 1 December 2015

Diet quality and processed foods

Diet quality and processed foods   Last reviewed 11 September 2020 A nutritious diet is important to the health and wellbeing of Australian and New Zealand consumers. Large studies around the world have reported that diets of lower quality (e.g. high in sugar, salt, and saturated fats) are associated with an increased risk of early death from cardiovascular disease and cancer. Diet scoring systems There is extensive research on ways to measure how nutritious your diet is. Diet scoring systems, also known as diet quality indices, typically rate the quality of your diet based on the different types of foods you eat - such as fruit, vegetables, cereals, meat and fish, and some also look at the nutrients we get from these foods such as sodium, sugars, protein, fibre and fats. For…

Published 30 September 2020

Amendment 150

Amendment 150 Download: Amendment 150 (pdf 77 kb)| (word 87 kb) Amendment No. 150 contains amendments to the following Standard in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code   Standard 1.1.1 Preliminary Provisions - Application, Interpretation and General Prohibitions Standard 1.1A.6 Transitional Standard for Special purposes Foods (including Amino Acid Modified Foods) (New Zealand Only)…

Published 31 October 2014