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About us Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is an independent statutory agency established by the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 (FSANZ Act). FSANZ is part of the Australian Government's Health portfolio. Title Corporate resources Card Who we are We're at the centre of the world class bi-national food regulation system that protects the ‘safe food’ brand for Australia and New Zealand. …

Call for comment to permit the use of a new processing aid

Call for comment to permit the use of a new processing aid Date: 10/10/2023 ​Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for comment on an application to permit the use of the enzyme transglut​aminase (EC 2.3.2.13) as a processing aid. FSANZ CEO Dr Sandra Cuthbert said the enzyme would be used in brewing and the manufacturing and/or processing of food products. “If approved, the enzyme may be used as a processing aid in brewing and in the production of bakery and other cereal-based products such as pasta and noodles, cheese, fermented dairy products, dairy analogues, egg substitutes, meat products, fish products, meat analogues and fish analogues," Dr Cuthbert said. The enzyme is sourced from genetically modified Bacillus licheniformis containing the transglutaminase gene from Streptomyces mobaraensis. “B. licheniformis has a long history…

Published 11 October 2023

Food derived using new breeding techniques - review

Food derived using new breeding techniques - review We have been reviewing how the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code) applies to food derived using new breeding techniques (NBTs). NBTs are new approaches in plant and animal breeding that were not in use when Standard 1.5.2 - Food produced using gene technology - was first developed nearly 20 years ago. Since early 2018 we have been consulting with the key stakeholders and the community to look at how food derived from NBTs should be captured for pre-market approval under Standard 1.5.2 and whether the definitions for 'food produced using gene technology' and 'gene technology' in Standard 1.1.2 - 2 should be changed to improve clarity about which foods require pre-market approval. In February…

Published 7 October 2021

Call for comment on new sources for enzyme processing aids

Call for comment on new sources for enzyme processing aids Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for comment on three applications to allow new enzyme processing aids from genetically-modified (GM) microbial sources.   FSANZ CEO Dr Sandra Cuthbert said the applications seek approval to permit the use of three different enzymes; endo-1,4-beta-xylanase enzyme (gene donor Talaromyces leycettanus), alpha-arabinofuranosidase enzyme (gene donor Talaromyces pinophilus) both sourced from GM Trichoderma reesei and the carboxypeptidase enzyme sourced from Aspergillus oryzae.  “Trichoderma reesei and Aspergillus oryzae have a long history of safe use as a source of enzyme processing aids, including several that are already permitted in the Food Standards Australia New Zealand code,' Dr Cuthbert said.…

Published 8 February 2023

Call for comment on a new enzyme processing aid from a GM source 

Call for comment on a new enzyme processing aid from a GM source  Date: 10/10/2023 ​​Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for comment on an application to allow a new enzyme processing aid from a genetically-modified (GM) microbial source. FSANZ CEO Dr Sandra Cuthbert said if permitted, the enzyme beta-fructofuranosidase would be used as a processing aid in the production of short-chain fructooligosaccharides (scFOS) and to reduce sugar (sucrose) levels in treated fruit and vegetable products. “The enzyme is sourced from a genetically modified (GM) strain of Trichoderma reesei containing the beta-fructofuranosidase gene from Aspergillus niger," Dr Cuthbert said. “T. reesei has a long history of safe use as a production microorganism of enzyme processing aids, including several that are already permitted in the Australia…

Published 11 October 2023

Call for comment on a new type of genetically modified corn

Call for comment on a new type of genetically modified corn Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for comment on an application to allow the sale of food in Australia and New Zealand from a genetically modified (GM) corn. FSANZ CEO Mark Booth said the corn line (DP23211) has been genetically modified to give the plant the ability to protect itself from the herbicide glufosinate and the insect pest, corn rootworm. “If approved, this type of GM corn could be used to make starch, grits, meal, flour, oil and sweetener.  “When assessing this application, our safety assessment is a critical part of the approval process. “We looked at key safety aspects including the process used to transfer the gene into the plant, potential unintended changes, the nutritional content compared to non-GM corn and any potential allergic or…

Published 1 October 2020

Monitoring the safety of our food supply

Monitoring the safety of our food supply 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 microbiological contaminants, pesticide residue limits and chemical contamination. FSANZ also monitors nutrients in the Australian food supply, compiling the results in databases available to the public.   Completed ISFR food surveys…

Published 23 March 2021

Call for comment on an urgent proposal to prohibit the retail sale of pure and highly concentrated caffeine products

Call for comment on an urgent proposal to prohibit the retail sale of pure and highly concentrated caffeine products Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for public comment on an urgent Proposal to prohibit the retail sale of pure and highly concentrated caffeine food products in Australia and New Zealand. The proposal follows a review conducted by FSANZ in August 2019 which found the availability of pure caffeine for retail sale poses an unacceptably high risk to consumers, and should be prohibited. FSANZ CEO Mark Booth said the urgent proposal reflects a significant amount of work, including a thorough risk assessment carried out by FSANZ over the past few months. “Our risk assessment confirmed pure or highly purified forms of caffeine pose an unacceptably…

Published 23 March 2021

Food safety requirements for melon growers and primary processors

Food safety requirements for melon growers and primary processors If you are a melon grower or primary processor, you may be subject to new food safety standards. Who needs to meet the requirements? The requirements will apply to all primary producers and primary processors of melons. A primary producer is a business that grows and/or harvests melons. A primary processor is a business that does any of the following: washing, sorting, trimming, sanitising, storing, combining and packing melons, and transporting melons between pack houses. What are the requirements? The requirements of Standard 4.2.9 include: an approved food safety management statement showing how risks are managed traceability: being able to track where melons have come…

Published 1 October 2025

Bright Tank Brewing Co - West Side Hazy Pale 375ml

Bright Tank Brewing Co - West Side Hazy Pale 375ml Bright Tank Brewing Co are conducting a recall of the above product(s). The product(s) has been available for sale in Dan Murphy's, BWS, and independent retailers in WA. Date Marking: BB200526 Problem:  Secondary fermentation. Food safety hazard:  Food products containing excess alcohol and carbonation may cause illness/injury if consumed. What to do:  Consumers should not drink or open this product and should dispose of it safely. Please contact Bright Tank Brewing Co for safe disposal instructions and reimbursement. Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice. For further information please contact: Bright Tank Brewing Co0408575684headbrewer…

Published 28 November 2025