Search
Search results 171-180 of 2407
Call for comment to permit the use of a genetically modified processing aid subtilisin
Call for comment to permit the use of a genetically modified processing aid subtilisin Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for public comment on an application to permit the use of a protein engineered variant of the enzyme subtilisin as a processing aid to hydrolyse proteins in foods. FSANZ CEO Sandra Cuthbert said the application seeks approval to permit the use of a protein engineered variant of the enzyme subtilisin from a genetically modified strain of Bacillus subtilis. This strain contains the subtilisin gene from Bacillus clausii as a processing aid for hydrolysing proteins in food. “A microbiological assessment concluded that the host organisms have a long history of safe use in food and is not pathogenic or toxigenic. A toxicological assessment combined with a dietary…
Published 31 January 2024
Caffeine
Caffeine Caffeine occurs naturally in foods, such as coffee, tea and cocoa and has a long history of use as a mild stimulant. Products are also available with added caffeine, including cola-type soft drinks and formulated caffeinated beverages (energy drinks). Some caffeine products are not considered safe for consumption and have been banned in Australia and New Zealand. These products usually come in the form of powders and syrups and are typically marketed as sports supplements. Caffeine content of some food and drinks: Caffeine-infographic.png Is there a safe limit for caffeine? There is no recognised health-based guidance value, such as an Acceptable Daily Intake, for…
Published 1 November 2023
Call for comment on food derived from a GM corn line
Call for comment on food derived from a GM corn line Published 19 March 2024 Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for submissions on an application to permit the sale and use of food derived from a genetically modified (GM) corn line. Corn line MON94804 has been genetically modified to reduce the plant’s overall height. This potentially provides higher yields, due to improved access for farming equipment and reduced risk of crop losses from high winds and adverse weather. “If approved, food from this type of GM corn could be imported into Australia and New Zealand via products including starch, grits, meal, flour, oil and sweetener," FSANZ CEO Dr Sandra Cuthbert said. “Our safety assessment focused on human food safety and nutritional issues and found food derived from MON94804 is considered to be as safe for human…
Published 19 March 2024
Arsenic
Arsenic (January 2020) Arsenic is a chemical element found in water, air, food and soil as a naturally occurring substance or due to contamination from human activity. Arsenic occurs in organic and inorganic forms. The organic forms are of relatively low toxicity while the inorganic forms present a greater hazard. Both forms of arsenic appear naturally in soil and ground water and as such, their presence (in extremely low levels) in foods is unavoidable. Monitoring arsenic levels in food FSANZ and other Australian and New Zealand government agencies continuously monitor the food supply to ensure it is safe and that foods comply with standards for chemical contamination. Our most recent Australian Total Diet Study investigated total and…
Published 24 January 2020
Advisory Committee Novel Foods
Advisory Committee Novel Foods Terms of Reference
- Consider enquiries in relation to potential novel foods (in conjunction with the required data), including previously considered enquiries in relation to potential novel foods where new data has been submitted.
- Make recommendations to the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) General Manager - Food Standards (Wellington) in response to enquiries in relation to potential novel foods. The recommendations should contain the following advice:
Nanotechnology and Food
Nanotechnology and Food (September 2022) What is nanotechnology? Nanotechnology describes a range of technologies used to manipulate materials that are generally less than 100 nanometres (nm) in size in one dimension. One nm is one billionth of a metre. Are nanotechnologies being used in foods? There is little evidence to suggest nanotechnologies are being used in the food industry on a wide scale, although a lot of research is being undertaken on potential applications. Future applications of nanotechnologies could include nanostructured food products, nanoscale or nano-encapsulated food additives, or food packaging with improved properties. There are, however, certain foods including food additives that naturally contain nanoscale particles. Are nanoscale materials new? Nanoscale…
Published 28 September 2022
Response to Heinemann et al on the regulation of GM crops and foods developed using gene silencing
Response to Heinemann et al on the regulation of GM crops and foods developed using gene silencing (May 2013) Key points
- A recent scientific article (Heinemann et al, 2013) claims that small double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) generated in GM plants as a result of using gene silencing techniques can create biosafety risks that are not being adequately assessed by regulators such as Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). They suggest changes to the safety assessment process to address their concerns.
- FSANZ has carefully examined the arguments put forward in the article, and has thoroughly researched the scientific literature on gene silencing. The weight of scientific evidence published to date does…
Published 16 January 2014
Information Publication Scheme
Information Publication Scheme The Australian Government's Information Publication Scheme (IPS) started on 1 May 2011. It aims to promote transparency and a proactive approach to publishing. All applications and proposals to change the Food Standards Code, as well as submissions, are published on our website. There may be occasions when the size of files means we are unable to publish all documents. In these cases all documents will be made available in other ways. The executive summary of an application will be placed on the website after an administrative assessment is completed and the application has been accepted. When the call for submissions occurs, the main…
Published 14 April 2023
Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) linked to eggs
Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) linked to eggs (June 2019) State and territory food regulators, health authorities and agriculture departments in Australia are investigating a rare strain of Salmonella (Salmonella Enteritidis) associated with human illness and egg consumption. Public health officials investigate Salmonella outbreaks using a nationally standardised questionnaire, and coordinate epidemiological investigation through OzFoodNet. DNA Genetic fingerprinting is performed on Salmonella bacteria isolated from ill people by using whole genome sequencing (WGS), which gives a more detailed DNA fingerprint picture than any other typing method. WGS performed on bacteria isolated from ill people showed that they were closely related genetically. This…
Published 13 July 2023
Weather events
Weather events Grower and primary processors need to make sure produce that might have been damaged or contaminated from weather events is disposed of or treated so it is safe to eat. What are weather events? Weather events include drought, dust storms, floods, strong winds and hail storms, which can all contaminate produce. What are the requirements? Primary producers and primary processors of leafy vegetables and melons must take appropriate action to ensure that produce affected by a weather event is not unacceptable and is safe to eat. This means you need to understand the food safety risks, and what to do with your produce after these events, to prevent unsafe produce entering the food supply. These requirements are under primary production and processing standards for…
Published 20 October 2023