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FSANZ advice on imported human milk and human milk products

FSANZ advice on imported human milk and human milk products (April 2020) 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…

Published 3 April 2020

What we do (and don't do)

What we do (and don't do)   Transcript The Australian and New Zealand joint food regulation system involves governments at all levels. Our role is to develop and manage standards for food. Some of the standards we develop are for both Australia and New Zealand. Others are for Australia only. Standards become part of food laws in Australian states and territories and in New Zealand.  They are enforced by state and territory governments and the New Zealand government. The joint Food Standards Code includes requirements for labelling, composition (for some foods) and permissions for things like processing aids, additives and vitamins and minerals in food.   The code also has food safety standards and primary production and processing standards that apply only in Australia. We also help coordinate…

Published 21 January 2019

Warning and advisory statements

Warning and advisory statements Advisory statements Advisory statements must be provided for certain foods or ingredients which may cause health risks for some consumers. Foods or ingredients that fall into this category include:

• aspartame - labels on food containing the intense sweetener aspartame must indicate the food contains phenylalanine (which can affect people with the rare genetic disorder phenylketonuria)
• guarana or guarana extracts - labels on food containing guarana or extracts of guarana (which is a natural source of caffeine) must indicate that the food contains caffeine
• plant sterols - labels on foods containing added plant…

  Published 24 February 2016

Country of origin labelling

Country of origin labelling Country of origin labelling requirements in Australia The Australian Government introduced a country of origin food labelling system under Australian Consumer Law on 1 July 2016. Country of origin labelling requirements for food is in the Country of Origin Food Labelling Information Standard 2016, under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. These requirements became mandatory on 1 July 2018. At the same time, the Food Standards Code was amended to remove country of origin labelling requirements. Further information on country of origin food labelling is available on the following websites:

• …

  Published 25 February 2022

Use-by and best-before dates

Use-by and best-before dates Date marks give a guide to how long food can be kept before it begins to deteriorate or may become unsafe to eat. The two types of date marking are use-by dates and best-before dates. The food supplier is responsible for placing a use-by or best-before date on food. Foods that must be eaten before a certain time for health or safety reasons should be marked with a use-by date. Foods should not be eaten after the use-by date and can't legally be sold after this date because they may pose a health or safety risk. Most foods have a best-before date. You can still eat foods for a while after the best-before date as they should be safe but they may have lost some quality. Foods that have a best-before date can legally be sold after that date provided the food is fit for human consumption…

Published 29 April 2022

Fish names

Fish names The Food Standards Code does not define names for fish. The seafood industry has worked with Standards Australia to develop an Australian Fish Names Standard which provides guidance on standard fish names to be used in Australia. You can purchase electronic or hard copies of the standard (AS -SSA 5300) from the SAI Global website. A searchable database of Australian Fish Names is available on the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation website. Common Māori and scientific names for fish species in New Zealand are available from the Ministry for Primary…

Published 9 March 2023

Ingredient lists and percentage labelling

Ingredient lists and percentage labelling Ingredient lists Ingredients must be listed in descending order (by ingoing weight). This means that when the food was manufactured, the first ingredient listed contributed the largest amount and the last ingredient listed contributed the least. For example, if sugar is listed near the start of the list the product contains a greater proportion of this ingredient. If the product contains added water, it must be listed in the ingredient list according to its ingoing weight, with an allowance made for any water lost during processing, e.g. water lost as steam. The only exceptions are when the added water:

• makes up less than 5% of the finished product,
• is part of a broth, brine or syrup that is listed in the ingredient list, or
• is used to…

  Published 25 January 2022

Beta-glucan and blood cholesterol health claims

Beta-glucan and blood cholesterol health claims In August 2015, FSANZ completed a systematic review of the evidence for a relationship between oats, barley and beta-glucan and blood cholesterol concentration. The review substantiated a relationship between oats and blood cholesterol but not barley and blood cholesterol. A relationship between beta-glucan (from oats or barley) and blood cholesterol was not assessable. The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code) currently permits a high level health claim to be based on a relationship between beta-glucan (from oats or barley) and blood cholesterol. FSANZ issued a…

Published 13 April 2021

Nutrition content claims and health claims

Nutrition content claims and health claims Nutrition content claims and health claims are voluntary statements made by food businesses on labels and in food advertising. Standard 1.2.7 sets out requirements for making these claims. Nutrition content claims Nutrition content claims are about the content of certain nutrients or substances in a food, such as 'low in fat' or 'good source of calcium'. These claims need to meet certain criteria. For example, food with a 'good source of calcium' claim  needs to contain at least the amount of calcium specified in the Standard. Health claims Health claims are about the relationship between a food and health effects. All health claims must be supported by scientific…

Published 8 September 2022

Research work on Nutrition, Health and Related Claims

Research work on Nutrition, Health and Related Claims Research conducted in 2006 In order to further evaluate the best risk management options for nutrition content claims, research was conducted on consumer understanding of inclusion of percentage daily intake values (%DI) in the nutrition information panel, and on 'no added sugar' claims. FSANZ commissioned TNS Research to investigate consumer understanding and ability to use %DI and the percentage recommended dietary intake (%RDI) information to make product decisions, and consumer ability to use %DI information in the interpretation of nutrient content claims. In June 2006, 51 in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted in Australia and New Zealand with consumers across a broad range of experiences. Current use of %RDI…

Published 17 June 2015