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Vitamins and minerals added to food

Vitamins and minerals added to food Vitamins and minerals can only be added to food if permissions exist in the Food Standards Code. The Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation has agreed that food manufacturers can add vitamins and minerals to food in response to an actual or potential population health need. This is outlined in the Fortification of Food with Vitamins and Minerals Policy Guideline. Mandatory fortification Mandatory fortification is when food…

Published 24 June 2016

Food Safety: an audit system

Food Safety: an audit system An information paper outlining an audit system developed for the purpose of auditing food safety programs [ Full version PDF 164 kb ] Executive summary At the request of State and Territory Health Ministers, the Australia New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA) developed a package of food safety reforms to update existing regulatory requirements and to ensure a nationally consistent approach to food safety. As part of these reforms, ANZFA proposed that food businesses should be required, over time, to implement a food safety program based on Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) to control potential food safety hazards. ANZFA has developed a…

Published 24 December 2013

Risk Analysis in Food Regulation

Risk Analysis in Food Regulation This publication describes how FSANZ uses risk analysis to manage a diverse range of food-related health risks. The risk analysis process used by FSANZ is based on the internationally accepted codex Risk Analysis Framework. The document provides a broad overview of the FSANZ process; it is not intended to provide detailed information on the approach used by FSANZ in assessing particular types of foods, e.g. food contaminants or substances added to food. To produce this work, the previous booklet The Analysis of Food-Related Health Risks was systematically reviewed and updated over the course of two years. This latest edition now includes additional information on how FSANZ undertakes a nutritional risk analysis (the assessment of both…

Published 4 December 2021

Developing the food nutrient database

Developing the food nutrient database Filling nutrient gaps in the core dataset Development of additional nutrient profiles for foods and beverages consumed in the NNPAS Development of additional nutrient profiles for foods and beverages consumed in the NATSINPAS  Nutrient profiles for foods and beverages in AUSNUT 2011-13 were developed following the key steps outlined below, and reflect the foods and beverages consumed during the 2011-13 Australian Health Survey (AHS). Development…

Published 23 September 2014

Food Standards Code legislation

Food Standards Code legislation On this page

• Food Standards Code Compilation PDF
• Food Standards Code links to the Federal Register of Legislation
• About the Food Standards Code

Published 29 March 2025

Values, Governments, and Food Regulation

Values, Governments, and Food Regulation In 2006, FSANZ commissioned the University of New South Wales to prepare a discussion paper on Values, Governments, and Food Regulation. The review, prepared by Dr Stephen Coleman, draws together the research relating to the increased attention on food safety, primarily focusing on ethics and public policy, but also political science. The review summarises the key points to be considered when attempting to develop an appropriate policy for government intervention in the production and sale of food. The key issues explored include:

• the role of government in liberal democracies such as Australia and New Zealand,
• issues of individual rights to liberty and autonomy, and
• the role that values can appropriately play in the development of governmental policy with…

  Published 10 June 2017

Shaping food safety culture

Shaping food safety culture Achieving a strong food safety culture takes effective leadership and commitment, and contributions and support from everyone in your business. This document outlines some simple practices you can put in place to develop, shape and strengthen your business's food safety culture. Keys areas you may choose to improve are:

• leadership − creating a vision on food safety and 'walking the talk' to inspire your team
• workplace environment  − effective two-way communication and a supportive environment where staff feel confident to contribute
• staff knowledge  − more than training: applying their knowledge on the job to result in the right behaviour, every…

  Published 19 May 2021

2019 Key Foods program

2019 Key Foods program In 2019, FSANZ undertook an analytical program to update and expand our food composition data holdings. Sixteen foods were selected for nutrient analysis for which we hold no data, or the data we do hold is out-dated and may no longer reflect the products available for consumption. The nutrients selected to be analysed differed for each food depending on what data was available, the quality of the data, and whether the nutrient was likely to be present in the food. Sampling Eight samples were purchased for each food. The foods were sampled across Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). For some samples, multiple items were required to ensure an appropriate sample weight was obtained (i.e. one sample of lollies included 2-3 bags). Sampling was…

Published 7 August 2023

Australian Branded Food Database

Australian Branded Food Database We're developing a database of branded food products sold in Australia. The Branded Food Database will provide a central source of brand-specific information to support our standards development work and development and monitoring of Australian Government public health policy and nutrition initiatives. We also aim to publish a subset of branded food data to help people make informed decisions about the foods and beverages they buy. Over time, we hope to link the database with other datasets to provide a more comprehensive picture of food and nutrient consumption patterns in the Australian population. The database The Branded Food Database is a three-part system that will deliver secure, integrated data collection, storage, analysis…

Published 30 March 2023

Binational Food Industry Dialogue

Binational Food Industry Dialogue   The Binational Food Industry Dialogue (BFID) provides an opportunity for FSANZ to engage in ongoing dialogue with retailers, manufacturers and peak bodies. The objective is to improve information sharing on common issues of interest, provide industry perspectives on prospective areas of standards management, enhance industry understanding of FSANZ processes, and share information and collaborate on matters arising from significant food incidents.  The BFID consists of the following members and government representatives. Member organisations Aldi Alternative Proteins Council Arnott's Group Australian Beverages Council Australian Dairy Products Federation Australian Department of Agriculture, Forest…

Published 7 November 2022