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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

Transgenic food animals

Transgenic food animals A Survey of publicly available information (December 2003) By Gregory S. Harper* , Alan Brownlee, Thomas E. Hall, Robert Seymour, Russell Lyons, Patrick Ledwith CSIRO Livestock Industries, 306 Carmody Rd., St. Lucia, Qld 4067 Executive Summary The last decade of animal research has reinforced the view that some food-related qualities of animal products (e.g. eating quality and yield) are strongly influenced by the genotype of the animal. Likewise animal production performance characteristics (e.g. growth rate and disease resistance) have been improved by selective breeding. One significant advantage of transgenesis is in rapid genetic improvement of traits of interest, and a dramatic example…

Published 3 April 2013

Labelling poster - how to read food labels

Labelling poster - how to read food labels Most packaged foods are required to have a label with important information to help you make informed choices about what you and your family eats. The information required varies depending on the food. Remember certain information about foods that are unlabelled (e.g. fresh fruit and vegetables, or food that is purchased from where it is made such as cafes, bakeries or takeaway shops) may still need to be provided. This information is usually either displayed with the food or provided if you ask for it, for example, if the food contains certain allergens or directions for using or storing the food safely. FSANZ is responsible for developing and maintaining the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, which includes standards for food labelling…

Published 13 May 2020

Thermometers

Thermometers If you're a food business that handles potentially hazardous food, it's important to use a thermometer to check your food is at the right temperature to be sure it is safe to eat. What are the requirements? Under Standard 3.2.2 - Food Safety Practices and General Requirements, food businesses that handle potentially hazardous food need to have an accurate and accessible thermometer. This means:

• there is at least one thermometer somewhere easy to get to (e.g. in an unlocked drawer in the kitchen)
• the thermometer is accurate to within 1°C.

• A digital probe thermometer is usually best for measuring food temperatures. They are inexpensive and are available from…

  Published 1 October 2025

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

Quorn (mycoprotein)

Quorn (mycoprotein) Mycoprotein is a source of dietary protein and fibre derived from a fungus. It is used in a limited range of meat-free foods marketed under the brand name Quorn™. Although Quorn products have been available in Australia only since 2010, they have been eaten in the United Kingdom since 1986 and in the United States since 2001. Some consumers have reported adverse reactions after eating mycoprotein-based products. Research in Europe suggests that while most consumers can eat these products safely, about 1 in 100,000 to 200,000 people may react to them. Because it's made from a fungus, it's possible that some people who react to other fungi or moulds (including when they breathe them in) may also react to mycoprotein. While FSANZ is not aware of any medically…

Published 3 November 2023

FSANZ strengthens role in global food standards development

FSANZ strengthens role in global food standards development Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) plays an important role in shaping global food standards, leading Australia’s participation in several key international committees within the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex). Established by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Codex develops international food standards and codes of practice to protect consumer health, ensures fair food trade practices, and encourages coordination between governments and organisations. While the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) manages Australia’s engagement with Codex overall, FSANZ leads our work on a number of highly…

Published 31 October 2024

Safeguarding food safety through surveillance and horizon scanning

Safeguarding food safety through surveillance and horizon scanning Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) continues to play a vital role in protecting the safety of the food supply through ongoing surveillance and monitoring activities. This year, FSANZ is leading the 28th Australia Total Diet Study (ATDS) – the most comprehensive survey of chemicals, nutrients and other substances in the Australian diet.   Over 2,000 food samples are being collected nationwide and analysed for more than 600 chemicals including pesticides, antimicrobials, metals and mycotoxins. The data from the ATDS will strengthen food safety standards and help ensure that the Australian food supply remains safe. FSANZ also conducts targeted surveys. Examples include surveys on pyrrolizidine alkaloids in Australian foods, as well as metals…

Published 31 January 2025

Notifying your food regulatory agency

Notifying your food regulatory agency It is important that all businesses that make or sell food are known to food regulatory agencies so that these agencies can ensure that food businesses are handling food safely. The food safety standards require all food businesses to provide the following information to the appropriate regulatory agency before any food handling begins:

• contact details for the business, including the name of the business and the name and address of the proprietor;
• the nature of the business; and
• the location of all food premises that are within the jurisdiction of the regulatory agency.

Published 1 October 2025

CEO year in review

CEO year in review As 2025 draws to a close, I reflect with pride on the progress we have made with our food regulation system partners and stakeholders to keep food safe and trusted in a rapidly evolving food system environment. This year, following rigorous scientific assessment and extensive stakeholder consultation, we delivered a range of important food regulatory outcomes for Australia and New Zealand. We strengthened national standards for egg production and processing to ensure eggs remain a safe and trusted staple in Australian households, updated the definitions for genetically…

Published 5 December 2025