FoodLegal Bulletin, July, 2005 >>
| 1. | Post Scripts and Feedback Postscript and feedback for the FoodLegal Bulletin Issue 3, 2005. Read more >> |
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| 2. | Correct Weight An incorrect statement of the net contents of a food package can result in financial claims against the product supplier and packager. Read more >> |
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| 3. | Folate Follies Folate (in its synthetic form known as Folic Acid) is a naturally occurring member of the B group of vitamins. It is found in fruit, legumes and in green leafy vegetables. In 1995 in Australia and New Zealand voluntary folate fortification of food products was allowed based on research into the positive effect of folate on human development and disease prevention. It has been found that increased levels of folate intake during pregnancy may decrease the risk of neural tube defects (“NTD’s”), such as spina bifida (www.phaa.net.au/policy/folate.htm), and the risk of heart disease. In the US, since January 1998 folate fortified breads and flour products have been sold to the public. Read more >> |
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| 4. | Acrylamide - from the Fat into the Firing Line Only discovered in 2002, acrylamide is a natural chemical by-product which forms when certain carbohydrate-rich foods are fried, baked, or roasted at high temperatures, that is greater than 120 degrees celsius. According to Food Standards Australia New Zealand (“FSANZ”), acrylamide may be found in fried or roasted potato products, coffee and cereal-based products (including sweet biscuits, bread, rolls and toast) Read more >> |
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| 5. | Packaging Covenant Revision The National Packaging Covenant Council published a draft document in April 2005 entitled “The National Packaging Covenant – A Commitment to the Sustainable Manufacture, Use and Recovery of Packaging”. Read more >> |
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| 6. | Product Recalls and Withdrawals Readers will be aware of the recent highly publicized example of a large confectioner withdrawing and destroying millions of chocolate bars produced at one of its Australian plants. This was a voluntary product recall to counter the alleged deliberate contamination of a product and should be a reminder of the importance of having a clear food recall action plan that will reduce the inevitable costs of a product withdrawal while also minimising the potential adverse publicity a product recall can engender. Read more >> |
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| 7. | Imported Foods under New Management According to a recent (May 2005) Bulletin issued by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS), the responsibility for the regulation and enforcement of food standards in relation to food imports has recently been moved to the Technical Standards Branch (TSB) in the ‘Exports and Animal Programs Division’ of AQIS. This division oversees the technical standards, food inspection and animal program branches of AQIS and is meant to be part of a program that recognises the integration of imports and exports in a global trading environment. At the same time, AQIS is responsible for food safety and any conditions imposed on food imports and exports. Read more >> |
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| 8. | Fair Dinkum Labelling Campaign may miss the Bigger Picture As Australia’s farmers rally against foreign primary produce imports by fast-food giants and supermarkets and seek to ensure that Australian consumers are made aware of the origins of their food, the question must be asked whether labelling is really the core issue. For example, if the fast-food chain uses imported potatoes for the fries (chips), of what relevance is the label on the imported bags of potatoes? Read more >> |
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