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Labelling for religious, environmental, animal welfare and other consumer value issues

Labelling for religious, environmental, animal welfare and other consumer value issues Some food labels include information that relates to people's personal values/ethics, such as:

  • religious reasons (e.g. 'halal', 'kosher')
  • environmental concerns (e.g. carbon footprint labelling, palm oil labelling in relation to rainforest destruction)
  • animal welfare concerns (e.g. 'RSPCA approved', 'dolphin friendly')
  • human rights issues (e.g. fair trade, child labour).
The Food Standards Code does not include requirements for this kind of labelling. This is because the standards in the Code are mainly aimed at protecting public health and safety (for example, a standard that requires mandatory declarations for food allergens).   Food suppliers…

Published 6 April 2017

Food additive labelling

Food additive labelling Food additives in most packaged food must be listed in the statement of ingredients on the label. Most food additives must be listed by their class name followed by the name of the food additive or the food additive number, for example, Colour (Caramel I) or Colour (150a). Enzymes and most flavourings (or flavour) do not need to be named or identified by a food additive number and can be labelled by their class name only. The class name indicates what the food additive does (i.e. its purpose). Read a list of the most common class names of food additives. Food additive numbers (based on an internationally-accepted numbering system) can be used as an alternative to names which can be long and confusing. The lists below…

Published 1 December 2021

Sugar labelling

Sugar labelling The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code) includes requirements for food labels to include the total amount of sugars in the nutrition information panel (NIP). Total sugars includes sugar that is naturally present in the food and sugar that has been added as an ingredient. The code contains requirements for foods that make claims about sugar. For example, foods that claim to be 'low sugar' cannot contain more than 2.5 g of sugar per 100 mL of liquid food or 5g per 100g of solid food. There are also requirements for claims such as 'reduced sugar', 'x% sugar free', 'no added sugar' and 'unsweetened'. More information

Nutrition information panels

Nutrition information panels Nutrition information panels (NIP) on food labels provide information on the average quantity of energy in kilojoules or in kilojoules and kilocalories and these nutrients:

  • protein
  • fat
  • saturated fat
  • carbohydrate
  • sugars
  • sodium - a component of salt.
A NIP will include information about other nutrients if a claim is made. For example, if a food has a 'good source of fibre' claim then the amount of dietary fibre in the food must be shown in the NIP. The NIP must be presented in a standard format which shows the average quantity per serving and per 100 g, or 100 mL if a liquid. There are a few foods that don't require a NIP, for example:
  • foods sold unpackaged
  • foods made and packaged at the point of sale…

    Published 6 October 2020

Labelling review recommendation 12

Labelling review recommendation 12 (May 2017)   Recommendation 12 of an independent review of food labelling stated that where sugars, fats or vegetable oils are added as separate ingredients in a food, the terms 'added sugars' and 'added fats' and/or 'added vegetable oils' be used in the ingredient list as the generic term, followed by a bracketed list (e.g., added sugars (fructose, glucose syrup, honey), added fats (palm oil, milk fat) or added vegetable oils (sunflower oil, palm oil). Ministers responsible for food regulation asked FSANZ to undertake a technical evaluation and provide advice on the…

Published 27 September 2018

Labelling review recommendation 17

Labelling review recommendation 17   (May 2017)  One of the recommendations of an independent review of food labelling was that the declaration in the nutrition information panel (NIP) of the amount of nutrients per serving be no longer mandatory unless a daily intake claim is made.   Manufacturers currently provide nutrient information in the NIP in both 'per serving' amounts and per 100 grams or 100 mls. The recommendation proposed that manufacturers only be required to provide the amounts per 100 grams or 100 mls. Manufacturers would be permitted to provide 'per serving' information voluntarily.  Ministers responsible for food regulation asked FSANZ to assess and provide advice on the recommendation. In their response to the recommendation…

Published 27 September 2018

Labelling review recommendation 26

Labelling review recommendation 26   (June 2017)   In 2011, an independent review of food labelling recommended that energy content be displayed on the labels of all alcoholic beverages, consistent with the requirements for other food products (recommendation 26). The recommendation was based on the premise that providing energy information would help people wanting to manage their energy intake.   In response, ministers responsible for food regulation agreed 'in principle' with the recommendation. Before considering the issue further, ministers asked FSANZ to undertake research,…

Published 27 September 2018

Epidemiology studies

Epidemiology studies   We monitor all research on BPA and have prepared responses to some of the studies relating to epidemiology. The table below lists the studies from newest to oldest. Study Key findings/claims FSANZ response Association Between Bisphenol A Exposure and Risk of All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality in US Adults Bao et al. (2020) JAMA Network Open 3(8):e2011620. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.11620

  • In a cohort study of 3883 US adults enrolled in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), higher urinary BPA levels (measured in 2003-2008) were associated with an increased risk of death from all causes during approximately 10 years of observation.
  • Urinary…

    Published 12 October 2020

Studies in experimental animals

Studies in experimental animals   We monitor all research on BPA and have prepared responses to some of the studies relating to experimental animals. The table below lists the studies from newest to oldest. Study Key findings/claims FSANZ response 'Bisphenol A affects early bovine embryo development and metabolism that is negated by an oestrogen receptor inhibitor' Choi et al (2016) science Reports, 6:29318.

  • In vitro incubation of bovine embryos with BPA resulted in (i) a decreased percentage (by up to 20%) in embryos considered to be suitable for subsequent transfer into a host, and (ii) an up to 50% increase in glucose consumption rate by the embryos.
  • This is an in…

    Published 12 October 2020

Dioxins

Dioxins (February 2012) What are dioxins? Dioxins are chemicals produced when household and industrial waste is burned and as by-products from some industrial chemical processes. They persist in the environment for a long time and can get into food but assessments show the amounts are tiny so the risk to our health is minimal. Dioxins also break down in our bodies and we excrete them. Where do dioxins come from? More than 96 per cent of dioxins in the environment come from air emissions. Dioxins then fall to the ground and occur in trace amounts on soil, plant and water surfaces. In Australia, the major sources of dioxin emissions in the air are bushfires and burning agricultural stubble. Plants do not generally absorb dioxins. However, dioxins can enter the food chain when animals eat plants on which…

Published 31 October 2016