Obesity is at epidemic levels in Australia, and the state and federal health ministers are set to approve a new food nutrition value labelling system to try and get it under control.The new front-of-pack star rating was one of the main recommendations in the 2011 Blewett Review paper commissioned by the federal government. But the …

We are all concerned about food safety. But how would you feel if you opened a tin of seafood and saw glass shards inside? Well, some people have been reporting seeing such items to ‘Food Standards Australia New Zealand’.  This is a case of mistaken identity. While this is not a very common event, it …

Ask anyone and they will most likely tell you one of the healthiest food decisions that a person could make would be to choose organic foods. At this time, more and more manufacturers of food items are making the attempt to provide organic options, but it is not the norm yet. One Australian item will …

The New Zealand Institute of Food Science & Technology (NZIFST) was slated to hold its “Time for Action” conference 2-4 July 2013 in Hawke’s Bay. A number of sessions were be devoted to food safety issues that should be of interest to anyone who works in food production and service. It was a good opportunity …

Food safety goes beyond just washing your hands when you work in the kitchen. In fact, there is one piece of equipment that should be considered an absolute must in commercial kitchens as well as in Australian homes. However, a recent study by the Food Safety Commission indicated that less than a quarter of Australian …

Usually, food poisoning presents itself with gastrointestinal upset. People may experience stomach cramps, diarrhoea, nausea, and vomiting. In some cases, the person may also run a low-grade fever. Keep in mind that not all cases of stomach upset are food poisoning. Your illness could be related to a virus, side effects from certain medications, and …

Many people are aware of certain types of Hepatitis but what they don’t know is that one particular strain can actually be food borne. Hepatitis A, which can be spread by certain foods, has been increasing in number of recorded cases in the past few years. In fact, the Department of Health in Victoria indicated …

In the wake of recent issues with selling out-dated foods, the last thing Woolworths needs is more bad publicity. However, the company is a part of a large food recall that also affects other supermarkets including Food for Less, Flemings, and Safeway. Woolworths itself is the producer of the Macro Vegetarian Bites that have been …

In recent years, more food manufacturers have been producing GMO items. That means foods that have been genetically modified in some way. Usually, that means produce that has been modified to be more resistant to insects or poor weather, but there has been a growing concern among consumers and in certain groups about the safety …

It’s extremely important to have food standards, and the Australian commission, FSANZ, works very hard to ensure all companies producing or supplying food items take care to follow codes and only offer consumers items that are safe to eat. However, there is a big difference between food safety and cosmetic issues. Currently, all produce offered …