October 2011

A Series on Sweeteners: Advantame Show More Info
FoodLegal Lawyers and Consultants

© Lawmedia Pty Ltd, October 2011

In the previous issue of our FoodLegal Bulletin, we considered aspartame, a popular sweetener. This article continues our series on regulatory policy issues in relation to different sweeteners in the market place in Australia and around the world. We now consider a new sweetener – advantame. This article considers FSANZ’s recent approval of advantame for use as a food additive in Australia and compares the regulations in Australia, the European Union and the United States.

Did adulteration stop and contamination begin? Or, has food law simply changed? Show More Info
By Tony Zipper (C Chem, ARMIT (App. Chem.), FAIFST, FRACI, FoodLegal Food Chemist) and Joe Lederman (Managing Principal, FoodLegal)

FoodLegal Lawyers and Consultants

© Lawmedia Pty Ltd, October 2011
This article explores the regulatory approaches of Australian and overseas governments to some issues about measurement of physical contaminants in food.

Legal risks for healthy food certifications, a reflection on recent National Heart Foundation change in strategy Show More Info
By Charles Fisher and Joe Lederman

FoodLegal Lawyers and Consultants

© Lawmedia Pty Ltd, October 2011

On 23 September 2011, the National Heart Foundation declared that it would be withdrawing the “bold” use of its Tick logo from the fast food environment, McDonalds being the most famous company to make use of the Heart Tick certification. While the National Heart Foundation has been clear that the withdrawal is not a criticism of McDonalds, it is arguable that the certifying of “healthier” products can expose both the certifier and the certified to unexpected legal risks. Given the large number of certification schemes marketing health angles used by food products, the legal risks considered in this article ought to be considered by certification bodies as well as by food companies seeking an endorsement.

Legal implications of picking up the online food shopping: Click and Collect Show More Info
Recent growth in online shopping represents the biggest structural shift to affect the retail sector since the advent of supermarkets in the 1960s. More than ever, Australians are going online to research or buy household items. Supermarket grocery sales are also migrating online (e.g. home delivery services and “Click and Collect” systems of Australian companies such as Coles and Woolworths or overseas groups such as Tesco and Sainsbury’s). This article explores some of the potential legal requirements and implications of online food sales.