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FSANZ Board communique: 18 September 2024 meeting

FSANZ Board communique: 18 September 2024 meeting Overview The Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) Board met on 18 September 2024 to consider standards matters for decision, governance, organisational and performance matters, and strategic priorities.   The FSANZ Board is the accountable authority for the agency. Matters for decision   P290 – Food safety programs for catering operations to the general public The Board agreed to reject the draft variation and abandon…

Published 18 October 2024

New video guide for Nutrition Panel Calculator

New video guide for Nutrition Panel Calculator Calculating nutritional content just got easier.   Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has launched a ‘how to’ video to guide users of the online Nutrition Panel Calculator (NPC). This video is the first in a series of 4 to be released over the coming months.  The tool calculates the nutrient content of recipes and generates a Nutrition Information Panel (NIP) for product labels.  The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code) outlines that most pre-packaged food products for retail consumption in Australia and New Zealand must accurately display nutrition information on the packet.  To help food businesses meet these requirements, FSANZ developed the NPC as a simple, cost-…

Published 27 August 2024

We hear you – Let’s clear up the confusion around food date labels

We hear you – Let’s clear up the confusion around food date labels Our 2023 Consumer Insights Tracker (CIT) survey found up to a third of Australian and New Zealand consumers are unclear about the meaning of date marks. This misunderstanding can lead to an increased risk of foodborne illnesses and undermine confidence in food safety. Whether you’re a consumer making safe choices, a food supplier determining product shelf life, a retailer managing stock, or a food service provider preparing meals, understanding date marks is essential. Under Standard 1.2.5 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, date marks come in two main forms: use-by dates and best-before dates. Use-by dates are all about safety. Foods with a use-by date shouldn’t be eaten or…

Published 31 October 2024

First cell-cultured food approved by FSANZ Board

First cell-cultured food approved by FSANZ Board Cell-cultured quail is one step closer to being on restaurant menus following its approval by the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) Board.  The Australia and New Zealand-first approval would allow the sale of cell-cultured quail and establish new standards in the Food Standards Code to provide a clear regulatory framework for future cell-cultured food applications. The approval process now moves on to food ministers, who have 60 days to consider the FSANZ decision. The approval follows extensive scientific assessment and two rounds of public consultation on…

Published 9 April 2025

2024 Stakeholder Satisfaction Survey: we value your feedback

2024 Stakeholder Satisfaction Survey: we value your feedback At Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), we value stakeholder feedback to help us improve our performance. The FSANZ 2024 Stakeholder Satisfaction Survey is your chance to tell us what we’re doing well and where we can improve. Click here to complete the survey Last year’s survey results showed high stakeholder satisfaction in areas including coordinating food recalls, providing clear food standards information and making evidence-based decisions, but also highlighted a desire for more information sharing and informal consultation opportunities. In response to 2023 feedback, we worked on improving FSANZ’s consultation approaches and…

Published 31 October 2024

Energy labelling on packaged alcohol approved

Energy labelling on packaged alcohol approved Energy labelling on packaged alcoholic beverages was approved to be mandated under a change to the Food Standards Code by the FSANZ Board. If agreed by food ministers, the new standard will require energy content information to be presented on alcohol labels in a prescribed format, known as an energy statement. The new requirements are designed to help consumers better manage their energy intake from alcohol and make informed choices in line with dietary guidelines. The energy statement includes information most valued by Australian and New Zealand consumers in controlled testing. FSANZ research found an energy statement including energy content per serving, energy content per 100 mL, number of servings per package and number of standard drinks per serving best enables consumer understanding of…

Published 9 April 2025

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

What we heard: Informing the future of nutrition labelling

What we heard: Informing the future of nutrition labelling Nutrition labelling is vital to supporting consumers to make informed food and dietary choices.  FSANZ is excited to be progressing work looking at front- and back-of-pack food labelling through parallel projects covering the Health Star Rating (HSR) system and the nutrition information panel (NIP).  We’ve started public consultation on both projects and recently published a report summarising stakeholder input and feedback from a combined call for information. A total of 74 submissions were received from a range of stakeholders. We appreciate the time and effort taken by submitters in preparing their submissions. Input provided will be considered in our review of the evidence for both projects. The HSR work will provide food ministers with information and…

Published 9 April 2025

FSANZ welcomes new Australian Board members

FSANZ welcomes new Australian Board members Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has welcomed two new Australian Board members, Professor Lauren Ball and Mr Craig Sahlin, who were officially appointed on 8 October for a four-year term. Professor Ball is the Director of the Centre for Community Health and Wellbeing at the University of Queensland. An accomplished academic, Professor Ball has been recognised with two prestigious National Health and Medical Research Council fellowships. Her expertise encompasses primary and community care, allied health, health promotion, wellbeing and health policy. Mr Sahlin brings 15 years of experience in food safety and regulation to the Board. As a lawyer and public policy professional, Craig led the establishment of the NSW Food Authority, Australia’s first paddock-to-plate food regulatory agency…

Published 8 November 2024

Festive season food safety

Festive season food safety The holiday season is a time to come together with family and friends around food. It’s also a time when food safety risks can rise. Whether you’re cooking for loved ones at home or running a food business during the festive rush, following safe food handling practices is essential to prevent foodborne illnesses. Here’s some key tips for everyone:

1. Storage is critical:
   • Keep perishable foods like seafood, meats, dairy and prepared salads refrigerated at 5°C or below. For businesses, ensure storage equipment is well-maintained and thermometers are used to monitor temperatures.
   • Avoid overloading fridges—air circulation is essential to keep food cool. Consider alternative storage options like ice chests for non-perishable drinks to free up space for high-risk foods.
2. Temperature matters:…

   Published 17 December 2024