Failing food reports for September 2021

Risk food test results – aflatoxins, Salmonella and histamine continue to be commonly detected.    Source: Dept of Agriculture, Water and the Environment

Surveillance food tests includes random inspection of imported foods. Includes non-permitted ingredients such as vitamins and minerals and prohibited plants.    Source: Dept of Agriculture, Water and the Environment

Branded Food Database

FSANZ along with GS1 Australia are preparing a database that will enable consumers easy access to product information for thousands of foods and beverages, including nutrition information panel, listed ingredients, pack and serve size and health star rating along with dietary fibre and fruit, vegetable, nut and legume content.    Source: FSANZ

Energy labelling of alcoholic beverages

Options are being considered. Unlike most other packaged food and beverages, labels on most packaged alcoholic beverages do not provide information about energy content.   Source: FSANZ

Call for comment on Very Low Energy Diets

An application has been received to modify this standard to bring it into line with other international regulations for similar products.    Source: FSANZ

Call for comment - new source for an enzyme processing aid

The enzyme beta-fructofuranosidase has a long history of safe use and is already sourced from microorganisms. This application is to seek approval to produce the enzyme from a strain of bacterium known as Aspergillus fijiensis. FSANZ's safety assessment found no health and safety concerns for Australian and New Zealand consumers.    Source: FSANZ 

Hemp

An application has been submitted to FSANZ to permit the sale of low-delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) hemp leaf, seed sprout and root as food and food ingredients in Australia and New Zealand.    Source: FSANZ

National food recalls

This month, two were due to undeclared allergens (milk in Fresh Food Enterprises IQ Bars, and egg in YBC Picola Strawberry), and three were due to contaminants (Vibrio parahaemolyticus in raw Pacific oysters from Coffin Bay, Listeria monocytogenes in Snackers Market Tasty Cheese and Mini Crackers and Pretzels, and also in Good to Go Tasty Cheese Salami and Cabanossi).    Source: FSANZ