Monitoring of Emerging Issues News
March / April 2012
New Food Regulations

The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) has announced the changes to the New
Zealand only Supplemented Food Standard (SFS). This standard is an interim standard for
supplemented foods and is intended to be in place until permissions in the Australia New
Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code) become available. The SFS was introduced in
March 2010 to regulate food-type dietary supplements. The SFS contains two parts: Part 1,
which outlines the new composition and labelling requirements for supplemented foods; and
Part 2, which outlines the existing regulations for food-type dietary supplements. From 31
March 2012, Part 2 of the SFS will cease to exist, and from that date all food-type dietary
supplements must comply with Part 1 of the standard, 23 March 2012 http://bit.ly/GLsW4e
New Publications

The UK FSA has published the latest edition of its e-News. The latest edition includes the
work the FSA is undertaking ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games, the Play it Safe food
safety campaign, a capability review to ensure that the agency is prepared to meet its current
and future challenges, and the difference between best before and use by da tes, 30 March
2012 http://bit.ly/HxtU5p

The United Kingdom Food Standards Agency (UK FSA) has published two research papers
during March, including the development of a number of new methods for screening GMOs,
and an estimation of nutrient intakes in Scotland, 29 March 2012 http://bit.ly/GVNuXv

The EFSA and the ECDC published the second joint EU report on antimicrobial resistance in
zoonotic bacteria affecting humans, animals and food, 14 March 2012 http://bit.ly/xubEAa

The United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC) has published its
findings linking foodborne disease outbreaks to imported food products. CDC experts
reviewed outbreaks reported to CDC’s Foodborne Disease Outbreak Surveillance System from
2005-2010 for implicated foods that were imported into the United States. During that five -year
period, 39 outbreaks and 2348 illnesses were linked to imported food from 15 countries. Of
those outbreaks, nearly half (17) occurred in 2009 and 2010. Overall, fish (17 outbreaks) were
the most common source of implicated imported foodborne disease outbreaks, followed by
spices (six outbreaks including five from fresh or dried peppers). Findings also show that 45%
of the imported foods causing outbreaks were imported from Asia, 14 March 2012
http://1.usa.gov/wQWvzW

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Centre for Disea se Prevention
and Control (ECDC) have published their annual report on zoonoses and foodborne outbreaks
in the European Union (EU) for 2010. The report shows that Salmonella cases in humans fell
by almost 9% in 2010, marking a decrease for the sixth consecutive year. Campylobacteriosis
continues to be the most reported zoonotic infection in humans, 8 March 2012
http://bit.ly/yaBOgm
Acrylamide study

A new Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) report shows that the concerted effort by New Zealand’s
potato crisp manufacturers to lower acrylamide in their products is paying off. Acrylamide study
produces pleasing results
Australian & New Zealand Issues

FSANZ called for submissions on a report looking at the safety of fresh produce including
fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, tree nuts and edible flowers, with the submission period
closing on 21 May 2012. http://bit.ly/GPHJir

FSANZ released a consultation paper on a proposed new approach to regulation nutritive
substances and novel foods. The Food Standards Code indicated that nutritive substances are
foods that are not normally consumed as food on their own or used as an ingredient, for example an
amino acid. Novel foods are foods or substances that don’t have a history of human consumption,
which has led to difficulty in interpreting the definitions; therefore FSANZ is exploring a new
approach. The submission period closes on 21 May 2012. http://bit.ly/H1KPQ2

FSANZ called for submission on a proposal looking at potential food safety measures for producers
and processors of minor meat species and wild game, including kangaroo, crocodile, rabbit, ostrich
and emu. The call for submissions closes on 21 May 2012. http://bit.ly/H53wla

FSANZ has called for submissions on its assessment of an application that seeks to remove a
requirement that phytosterol-enriched milk cannot be sold in containers larger than 1 litre. The Code
has a volume restriction clause for phytosterol-enriched milk under Standard 2.5.1. The submission
period closes on 7 May 2012. http://bit.ly/GQEv8C

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) called for comment on an application for a
processing aid to reduce the risk of food poisoning bacteria – Listeria, with the submission
period closing on 27 April 2012. http://bit.ly/xQ2w9R
FSANZ makes every effort to ensure the information provided in this News
Letter is accurate, relevant and meets the needs of the reader. To this
affect FSANZ would be grateful if you could respond to the following
questionnaire
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Send your answers to: Ian.Powick@foodstandards.gov.au
Food Safety Incidents
Rare Salmonella Paratyphi Outbreak Grows as Investigation Continues

The outbreak of a rare, typhoidal Salmonella strain that originated in North Carolina's
Buncombe County grew to 40 confirmed illnesses on Thursday as the state and county
health departments continued their investigation Rare Salmonella Paratyphi Outbreak
Grows as Investigation Continues.
Food Recalls
USA – FDA
Link to the United States Food and Drug Administration recalls, market withdrawals and safety alerts:
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/default.htm#bottom
Henry’s Farm Inc. Expands Recall Of Soybean Sprouts Due To Possible Health Risk Recalls, Market
Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts > Henry's Farm Inc. Expands Recall Of Soybean Sprouts Due To Possible
Health Risk
UK – UKFSA
Link to the United Kingdom Food Standards Agency’s food alerts, product withdrawals and recalls:
http://www.food.gov.uk/enforcement/alerts/
Canada – CFIA
Link to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s March food recalls and allergy alerts:
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/newsroom/food-recalls-and-allergyalerts/eng/1299076382077/1299076493846
USA – FSIS
Link to the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service recalls and
alerts:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fsis_Recalls/Open_Federal_Cases/index.asp?src_location=Content&src_pa
ge=FSISRecalls
Australia – FSANZ
a2 Dairy Products Australia Pty Ltd (foreign matter)
http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/consumerinformation/foodrecalls/currentconsumerlevelrecalls/a 2full
creammilkforei5488.cfm April
Simplot Australia has recalled John West Tuna Tempters Sweet Seeded Mustard flavour (with a
batch code 4ER12) from Coles, Woolworths, IGA and other independent supermarkets nationally due
to foreign matter - glass fragments, 30 March 2012
Fantastic Snacks has recalled Fantastic Noodles Chicken Flavoured and Beef Flavoured nationally
from Coles, IGA and other independent supermarkets due to reports of unpleasant odour and stale
taste, possibly caused by the chemical composition of the cooking oil, 28 March 2012
Woolworths Ltd has recalled Mars flavoured cookies, Large 4 Pack, from Hogans Corner Safeway in
Hoppers Crossing, VIC due to undeclared allergen – peanut, 27 March 2012
Goodman Fielder has recalled Meadow Lea Extra Light margarine from Coles Supermarkets and
independent supermarkets nationally due to possible chemical contamination with a cleaning agent,
22 March 2012
Woolworths Ltd has recalled Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe Devil's Food Cupcakes (mix) and Duncan
Hines Moist Deluxe Confetti Cupcakes (mix) nationally from Woolworths/Safeway/Food For L ess/
Flemings Supermarkets due to undeclared allergens - milk and traces of tree nuts, 22 March 2012
Almarae Dairy Products have recalled Country Cheese from two outlets in Punchbowl, NSW due to
microbial contamination of Listeria and E.coli, 9 March 2012
Pacific Organics have recalled ‘GF Harvest Old Fashioned Rolled Oats (Gluten Free)’ from health
food stores and bakeries in NSW due to non-compliant labelling, 13 March 2012
Vitaco Health Australia has recalled all flavours of Healtheries Kidscare Rice Wheels and Healtheries
Wiggles Ricey Bites Cheese flavour from supermarkets nationally due to foreig n matter – glass, 2
March 2012
The Reject Shop Ltd has recalled Snack Stacks Potato Crisps Barbeque from their retail stores
nationally due to an undeclared allergen – milk, 2 March 2012.
New Zealand – NZFSA
Homecare Health Management has recalled its Lotcare Gold Grow Up Nutritional Supplement due to not
meeting the New Zealand requirements for composition, 16 March 2012
Goodman Fielder New Zealand Pty Ltd has recalled its Deli Kitchen Classic Ham & Mustard sandwich and
its Classic Ham & Mayo sandwich due to potential contamination of foreign matter – plastic, 15 March 2012
Hellers Limited has recalled its precooked flavoured sausages due to potential contamination of gluten, as
the product is labelled gluten free, 14 March 2012
Goodman Fielder New Zealand Pty Ltd has recalled its Deli Kitchen Sandwiches Gourmet Farmhouse
due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, 13 March 2012
Oriental Merchant Pty Ltd has recalled its Crown Pie – Chocolate Pie with Marshmallow Cream due
to undeclared allergens on the label – egg, 6 March 2012
Vitaco Health (NZ) Limited have recalled Healtheries Kidcare Rice Wheels and Wiggles Ricey Bites
due to potential contamination of glass, 2 March 2012
Rapid Alert System Notifications
The Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) has recently been updated, and now the system
utilises a portal where interested parties can view the alerts on a database rather than through PDF links.
The link to the new database can be found here: https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff-window/portal/
Within the database, there are various search options available to narrow your search.
To capture the relevant week of notifications, click under the ‘date’ heading and then ‘current week’ and
‘previous week’ respectively to view the notifications. Other search options are also available.
FSANZ makes the material in this newsletter available on the understanding that users exercise their own skill, care and judgement
with respect to its use. Before relying on the material, users should carefully evaluate the accuracy, completeness and relevance of
the information for their purposes, and should obtain appropriate expert advice relevant to their particular circumstances.
Links to external web sites are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute endorsement of any information, product or
services at those sites. FSANZ makes no representations or warranties regarding, the source, quality, accuracy or completeness of
the materials on any website to which a hyperlink is provided above.