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Food from cloned animals
Food from cloned animals Animal cloning is a type of reproductive technology. It creates an animal that is an exact genetic copy of another animal. The commercial use of cloned animals in agriculture has so far mainly been confined to the meat and dairy industries. The most common cloning method involves removing the genetic material from an unfertilised egg and replacing it with the complete genetic material from the animal to be cloned (the donor animal). The egg is then implanted into a surrogate mother who gives birth to an animal that is a clone of the donor animal. The cloned animal is then bred with other animals to pass on its desirable characteristics. Cloning is different to genetic modification. Genetic modification involves adding, taking away, or modifying genes. Cloning does not introduce any…
Published 8 September 2021
How FSANZ ensures the safety of food additives
How FSANZ ensures the safety of food additives Food Standards Australia New Zealand carries out safety assessments on food additives before they can be used. FSANZ checks whether: the food additive is safe (at the use levels being proposed) there is a good technological reason for using the additive. FSANZ's safety assessment process follows an internationally accepted (codex Alimentarius) model involving a hazard (safety) assessment of the chemical and dietary exposure (consumption levels) assessment. Read more about dietary exposure assessments Food…
Published 23 July 2025
Call for comment on a new enzyme processing aid
Call for comment on a new enzyme processing aid Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for comment on an application to allow an enzyme processing aid phospholipase A1 to be produced from a new genetically modified (GM) Asperigillus oryzae. FSANZ CEO Dr Sandra Cuthbert said the enzyme phospholipase A1 has a long history of safe use and is already approved to be sourced from a different strain of Aspergillus oryzae. “FSANZ's safety assessment found no health or safety concerns for Australian and New Zealand consumers,' Dr Cuthbert said. “If approved, this processing aid will be permitted for use as a processing aid in bakery products.' Guidance on how to make a submission is provided on the call for comment page on the FSANZ website. …
Published 18 May 2022
Safety assessments of GM foods
Safety assessments of GM foods How does FSANZ ensure GM foods are safe? FSANZ has established a rigorous and transparent process for assessing the safety of GM foods. The safety assessment is undertaken in accordance with internationally established scientific principles and guidelines developed through the work of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, World Health Organization (WHO) and the codex Alimentarius Commission. The data requirements to guide the safety assessment are provided in Guideline 3.5.1 of the Application Handbook and additional information on these data requirements is provided in Part 2.3 (GM Applications - Additional Information)…
Published 2 September 2025
Vitamin B6 in the food supply
Vitamin B6 in the food supply Vitamin B6 is an essential nutrient that must be obtained from the diet. It supports normal growth, development and overall health. As a water-soluble vitamin, it is not stored in the body and any excess from food is excreted in urine. This means you need to regularly eat foods that contain vitamin B6. Sources of vitamin B6 in the diet Vitamin B6 is found in many foods, including meats, vegetables, fruits, cereals and fortified products. To ensure sufficient intake of all nutrients, including vitamin B6, the Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend enjoying a wide variety of nutritious foods from these five food groups every day: Plenty of vegetables of different types and…
Published 24 June 2016
Caffeine powders and high caffeine content foods
Caffeine powders and high caffeine content foods Pure and highly concentrated caffeine food products (including pure caffeine powders) are banned from retail sale in Australia and New Zealand. These products are typically bought online and can have serious health effects, including death. Pure and highly concentrated caffeine powders are typically marketed as sports supplements and can contain the same amount of caffeine as 25 – 50 cups of coffee in a single teaspoon. Because these powders come in bulk packets, it is almost impossible for people to measure a safe dose from a toxic dose and has resulted in death. About the ban To protect consumers in Australia and New Zealand, foods that contain 5% or more of caffeine in solid or semi-solid…
Published 27 November 2023
Call for comment on shiitake mushroom mycelia as a processing aid
Call for comment on shiitake mushroom mycelia as a processing aid Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for comment on an application to amend the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code) to permit the use of a processing aid for protein processing.The application is seeking approval of a fermented preparation of shiitake mushroom mycelia, the root-like structure of the fungus.This preparation is intended to function as a processing aid for the fermentation of pea and rice protein. FSANZ has determined the applicant’s preparation is technologically justified for this purpose.Shiitake mushroom has a long history of safe consumption as a food. Based on FSANZ’s assessment, no public health and safety concerns were identified under the proposed use conditions.To have your say about this proposal, visit the FSANZ…
Published 12 December 2024
Findings released from national survey of AMR
Findings released from national survey of AMR Australia’s largest survey of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in raw retail meat has found bacteria in raw beef, pork and chicken continue to show low levels of resistance to antibiotics that are critical for treating people. More than 4,000 meat samples were collected from retailers in every state and territory, providing a national snapshot of resistance patterns in bacteria. Around two thirds of bacterial isolates showed no resistance to any of the antibiotics tested. Multidrug resistance was uncommon and, where detected, was largely linked to antibiotics considered of low importance to human medicine. Resistance to antibiotics highly important for human health remained low overall. Overall, the findings confirm that when Australian…
Published 4 March 2026
Call for comment on plant sterols in plant-based milk alternatives
Call for comment on plant sterols in plant-based milk alternatives Date: 1/07/2022 Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for comment on an application to allow phytosterols, phytostanols or their esters (plant sterols) to be added as a novel food to plant-based milk alternatives. FSANZ CEO Dr Sandra Cuthbert said FSANZ's safety assessment found no health and safety concerns for consumers in Australia and New Zealand. “Plant sterols have a long history of safe use and have been permitted to be added to certain foods for more than 20 years,” Dr Cuthbert said. For more information and to access assessment documents, visit the FSANZ call for comment page. Submissions close 6pm (Canberra time) on 12 August 2022. What happens to my feedback? We will publish all submissions to…
Published 4 July 2022
Call for comment on new enzymes for the production of an intense sweetener
Call for comment on new enzymes for the production of an intense sweetener Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for comment on an application to amend the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code) to permit three new enzymes for the production of an intense sweetener. The application is seeking approval of three enzymes from a genetically modified (GM) strain of Escherichia coli (E. coli) as processing aids for producing the steviol glycoside rebaudioside M (an intense sweetener) for use in foods. Our safety assessment found no potential public health or safety concerns with the use of the three enzymes derived from the GM strain of E. coli, which has a long history of safe use as an enzyme production organism. To have your say on this application, visit the …
Published 10 April 2025