Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has announced that as of Sunday, Australian bread makers must use folic acid-enriched flour to reduce the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) in newborns.
Australia’s most populous state, New South Wales (NSW), is considering a ban on high caffeine energy drinks in the Red Bull-led sector, after its Primary Industries minister, Ian McDonald, highlighted products loaded with up to 15 times recommended caffeine...
The New Zealand baking industry has said it will move towards a voluntary fortification of some breads with folic acid as the government is expected to delay plans for mandatory fortification.
The mandatory fortification of bread with folic acid in New Zealand is likely to be delayed for another three years, following heated debate over the risks and benefits of adding the synthetic B vitamin to bread.
New Zealand’s Food Safety Authority has received a dozen responses supporting a proposal to allow the manufacture, sale and import and export of unpasteurised dairy products, and which would open up a new global market.
A New Zealand company has applied to the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) for novel foods approval to market its honeybee venom to alleviate the symptoms of arthritis.
The Australian market for heart-healthy foods or supplements could be a tough one to crack, but consumer signs indicate that it holds potential for manufacturers willing to make the extra awareness-raising efforts.
Australian bakers have until October 9 to replace all regular salt with iodised salt when making bread products, as the Australian government attempts address an iodine deficiency that has been noticed among sections of the country’s 22 million inhabitants.
FSANZ says the majority of Australian adults are not exceeding its recommended maximum daily salt intake, following media reports that claim some Australians could be consuming 40g of salt a day – almost seven times the recommended max.
The levels of salt and sugar in breakfast cereal formulations targeted at children are slammed in Australia after consumer group finds key 'cereal' offenders are "heavy on marketing spin and light on good nutrition".
Salt reduction targets for food products sold in Australia are expected to be set in October 2009, subject to development and agreement between the government and the food industry.
Coca-Cola South Pacific has applied to the joint regulator in Australia and New Zealand to allow phytosterols to be added to fruit juice drinks in the two countries.
Cargill’s texturizing business is opening offices in Australia and New Zealand to serve local markets as well as customers meeting burgeoning demand for dairy products in Asia Pacific.
A survey into the levels of colourings in food products in Australia showed usage far below the maximum permitted levels (MPL); FSANZ says this shows there is no public health risk associated with their use.
The Australian dairy industry continues to target product innovation with a new grant specifically designed to encourage innovative new ways of thermal and non-thermal processing and producing fermented foods and cultures.
The Australian food authority FSANZ has approved the natural sweetener steviol glycosides (stevia), as an ingredient in foods and beverages in Australia and New Zealand.
The Australian and New Zealand food safety regulator is mulling a part reversal of a 1990s restriction on the use of coal-based dye erythrosine, after receiving a petition for its use in colourings for bakery icings.
Calls to ban the Southampton colours are reverberating around the world, as week campaigners in Australia called on FSANZ to phase out the additives implicated in hyperactivity like its UK counterpart.
The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) will pay $55 million (€32.58m) to liquidated supplements manufacturer Pan Pharmaceuticals after inappropriately recalling the company’s entire 1600-product suite in 2003.
Bakers in New Zealand will now by law have to fortify
bread products with iodine, as regulators in the country attempt to
boost consumption of the essential nutrient.
Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA), a major soft drinks producer in Australia
and Asia, has acquired the country's Bluetongue brewery brand to
extend its premium beer focus in a bid to further diversify its
revenue stream.
The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) has called for
further testing on two different proteins used in milk production,
just one month after claiming there was no danger in consuming
either of the products.
The Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) will face a
court hearing in March 2008, after an anti-GM group claimed that it
has illegally approved the field testing of genetically modified
brassica.
The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) has ruled that milk
containing either the A1 and A2 protein does not pose a danger to
the public and should remain part of a nutritious diet.
New Zealand today launched a major initiative to boost its food and
beverage exports, including NZ$19m earmarked for new market
development and a roadmap for innovations.
Food allergies in Australian children have risen 12-fold since 1995
and there is an "urgent need" for further research into the trend,
according to a new study.
Australia can adopt commercialised genetically modified (GM) canola
production without compromising its organic agriculture, say new
findings from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and
Resource Economics (ABARE).
New Zealand is proposing to update its dietary supplement
regulations to take into account new food-like delivery formats
that have emerged in the 20 years since they were drawn up.
Globalisation is creating a challenging environment for Australia's
food industry but has also opened up new markets with strong
potential, finds a new report.
Chocolate giant Cadbury will spend NZ$20 million (€10.3m) to expand
production of chocolate crumb in New Zealand, allowing it to meet
forecast growth in demand from the Asia-Pacific region, it
announced yesterday.
Cholesterol-lowering margarines are set to be joined by
cholesterol-lowering milks, yoghurts and cereals as Australia and
New Zealand's food authority finally approves the new categories.
Food miles, the trendy catchphrase alluding to pollution caused by
food exports, is 'a red herring' that detracts from serious
environmental issues to be faced by food producers, says Fonterra's
trade strategy manager,...
Australia's government will work with industry to reduce trans
fatty acids in Australian food, it announced this week, despite
figures that suggest intake of the fats among the population is
within safe limits.
Poultry processors in Australia are expected to implement
'significant price increases' for chicken meat, as drought leads to
surging grain prices, a major production cost for the country's
chicken farmers.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has unveiled its new
'Science Strategy' 2006 to maintain safety standards in the food
supply for food processors.
Australian dairies will drum up A$15 million in funding over the
next three years to support a new innovation centre that will be
tasked with finding ways to better compete with a challenging
marketplace.
Bakeries in Australia and New Zealand may be required to use only
iodised salt in the future, if a proposal from the countries' food
regulator is approved.
Australian baker George Weston Foods says government plans to
require all bread to be fortified with folic acid are based on
inadequate science and should not be brought into law.
