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Aspartame

Aspartame Aspartame is an intense sweetener added to low-energy or sugar-free foods. It is used in foods including yoghurt, confectionery and carbonated beverages. The safety of aspartame has been comprehensively reviewed by FSANZ and other international organisations, including:

• Food and Agricultural Organization/World Health Organization
• Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA)
• European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
• US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA).

Published 4 May 2022

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.

• Read more about…

  Published 23 July 2025

Glutamates and food

Glutamates and food Glutamic acid is an amino acid, naturally produced in humans and occurring in free form, for example, in tomatoes, soy sauce or certain cheeses. Glutamates are added to a wide range of foods to enhance their flavour by giving them a “savoury” or “meaty” taste. Current permissions in Australia and New Zealand Food additives are approved for use in Australia and New Zealand only if it can be shown no harmful effects are likely to result from their use.FSANZ conducts pre-market safety assessments on all food additives and monitors relevant scientific developments. Glutamic acid and glutamates (E 620-625) are authorised food additives in the EU and Australia and New Zealand in line with good manufacturing practice (GMP). This means that a food manufacturer can use a food…

Published 16 April 2018

Glazing agents

Glazing agents Glazing agents are a type of food additive used to coat the outside of food to give it a shiny appearance and/or a protective coating that can extend shelf life. They are typically used on fresh fruit and vegetables, bakery products, chocolate, chewing gum and other confectionary products. Glazing agents include vegetable oils or animal fats (471) and waxes such as beeswax (901), shellac (904) and carnauba wax (903). Before any food additive can be used in food sold in Australia and New Zealand, they must be assessed for safety and approved by FSANZ. As part of the safety assessment, we make sure there is a sound technical reason for their use and that the levels are safe and suitable for food.

• Read more about our safety…

  Published 14 May 2021

Animal diseases, human health and food safety

Animal diseases, human health and food safety Australia is free of the below listed diseases and has strict biosecurity measures in place to keep it free of these and other animal diseases. Further information on animal diseases is available on the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) website: …

Published 13 July 2023

FSANZ advice on imported human milk and human milk products

FSANZ advice on imported human milk and human milk products In late 2017, we were asked by the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment to consider the risks associated with the importation of human milk and human milk products into Australia. This advice has been provided to the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment who manage food safety risks at the border. What we looked at We assessed 30 potential hazards in imported human milk and human milk products. When determining the level of risk, we assumed the most vulnerable category of infants (preterm infants in hospital neonatal intensive care units) would be receiving the products. What are human milk products? Human milk is expressed milk from lactating women that is fed to…

Published 3 April 2020

Assessing the 2011-13 AHS against the Australian Dietary Guidelines

Assessing the 2011-13 AHS against the Australian Dietary Guidelines

• File Australian Health Survey - Australian Dietary Guidelines database (amended 3 January 2017) (Excel 3.8MB)

Published 20 June 2017

Hemp seeds as food

Hemp seeds as food Proposal to permit foods derived from hemp The Food Standards Code was amended in 2017 to permit the sale of low THC hemp seed foods. In April 2017ministers responsible for food regulation considered FSANZ's approval of a proposal to permit the sale of low-THC hemp seed foods. Ministers did not seek a review of the decision. Contact your local food enforcement agency to check legislation to support the legal sale of low-THC hemp seed foods. Hemp Hemp or industrial hemp is a cannabis plant species (Cannabis sativa). Historically, hemp has been used as a source of fibre and oil. Hemp seeds and oil are used…

Published 3 November 2023

Australian Health Survey

Australian Health Survey The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), in consultation with the Department of Health, conducted the Australian Health Survey 2011-13 (AHS). Around 13,000 people participated in the National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (NNPAS) component of the AHS. FSANZ is working with the ABS to prepare nutrient databases for the foods and supplements reported to be consumed in the NNPAS. These databases are used to estimate the nutrient intakes of the survey respondents. A similar exercise will be undertaken for the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey. Background The AHS is the largest and most comprehensive health survey conducted in Australia, building on previous national health and nutrition surveys…

Published 13 May 2021

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Homepage Safe food for life Food safety is our business. FSANZ has set the standards for safe food in Australia and New Zealand for more than 25 years. Our work is at the heart of the world class bi-national food regulation system, ensuring consumers in both countries can be confident the food they buy is safe to eat.  Have your say! FSANZ conducts public consultations on proposed food standards. We welcome feedback from stakeholders and the broader community on applications and proposals to change the Food Standards Code. Add block…