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:

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has released its 2023-24 Annual Report, highlighting the agency's key achievements in maintaining the safety of the food supply across both countries. 

FSANZ CEO Dr Sandra Cuthbert emphasised the year’s strong performance in standards setting. 

Do you ‘look before you cook’ your favourite foods?

Consumers are being encouraged to check the food safety instructions on packaged foods before preparing meals as part of Australian Food Safety Week (9-16 November).

Brought to you by our friends at the Food Safety Information Council (FSIC), Food Safety Week is an annual event promoting good food safety practices.

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.

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.