FoodLegal Bulletin, March, 2006

Queensland Poisonings Highlight Need for Better Food Safety Reporting FREE Show More Info
The temporary closure during February 2006 of Sizzler salad bars across Australia, after the arrest of a woman charged with lacing self-service salad bar foods with rat poison at two outlets, illustrates the need for better reporting and recording requirements for food contamination incidents and other food law infringements.

Are Australian Food Standards Adequate to Prevent Exposure to Benzene? FREE Show More Info
Australian consumers are potentially at risk of benzene contamination in a wide range of food products. Knowledge by the food regulators of the chemical reaction that can create benzene is a good reason for updating Australian food standards. Will FSANZ act?

Australian Laxity in Regulation of Trans Fat FREE Show More Info
On 1 January 2006, it became compulsory in the USA for all food products sold in the USA to state the ?trans fat? content on their Nutrition Information Panels under a rule passed by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2003. This USA change followed the introduction in Denmark in 2003 of laws requiring all foods to contain less than 2% trans fat. This article examines the recognized health risks of trans fat and the legal compliance implications for trans fat content for foods sold in Australia.

WA Food Bill & QLD Food Act: State(s) of Progress FREE Show More Info
The Food Bill 2005 (WA) was introduced into the Legislative Assembly and received its second reading speech on 23 November 2005. The Bill would repeal Part VIII of the Health Act 1911 and other parts of that Act that currently regulate food safety in Western Australia.

Country of Origin: FSANZ User Guide Released FREE Show More Info
On 9 March 2006 FSANZ released its User Guide for Country of Origin Labelling. The User Guide is available here.

Food Recalls: New Industry Food Recall Package Available Online FREE Show More Info
On 16 January 2006, major food and grocery suppliers, retailers and wholesalers adopted new food recall protocols with the aim of streamlining a food product?s recall or withdrawal. The package is available from the Australian Food and Grocery Council website.

ACCC Makes a Monopoly Kosher FREE Show More Info
It is unusual for government agencies to meddle in religious affairs. But in the context of food, it appears that the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has become muddled.

Labelling Laws Fall Behind FREE Show More Info
Changes to the layouts of supermarkets and the increasing presence of large ?warehouse? style stores have led to a situation where food suppliers face serious legal issues and extra cost burdens to get their products legally acceptable for sale. The placement and visibility of specific labelling information required by law is being governed by prescriptive laws that are past their date.

Geography in a Label or Product Name FREE Show More Info
There are different laws that may apply specifically when a product refers to a particular geographic location.