Will there be a new permitted food additive type in Australia – have your say.
Additives in the Food Standards Code are ingredients added to food to improve, one of more characteristics or issues related to that food. They can be for several reasons including; enhancing flavour, modifying textures, extending shelf life or even improving appearance.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ)is responsible for ensuring that the additives permitted by the Food Standards Code are safe for consumption and achiev what is expected.
To add a new additive to the current list can be either through an Application from outside FSANZ or a Proposal from within.
Usually these processes are about adding another additive to a current category.
However, there is a current Application before FSANZ about a whole new type of food additive. The following is from a current media release from FSANZ and is included here with permission.
Call for comment on a new type of food additive
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for comment on an Application to allow a new type of additive under the Food Standards Code.
FSANZ CEO Mark Booth said the additive is sourced from a particular type of mushroom called ‘sweet osmanthus ear’, and if approved, would be used to preserve non-alcoholic drinks.
“Extracts from the mushroom (known as jelly mushroom glycolipids) are used to protect food from common yeasts, moulds and bacteria that may grow over time.”
“We carried out a safety assessment and found it is safe for use based on the proposed maximum permitted levels the Application calls for.”
“To help people make informed choices about their food, mandatory labelling requirements apply and this food additive will need to be declared on the ingredients list.” Mr Booth said.
To have your say, see our call for comment page.
Submissions close: 17 September 2020. 6pm (AEST)
What happens to my feedback?
Submissions will be published to our website as soon as possible after the end of the public comment period.
We will consider all feedback received through this submission process before making a decision on whether to approve the application.
FSANZ’s decision will be notified to ministers responsible for food regulation who can ask for a review or agree that the standard should become law.
More information
- How to make a submission
- Read the assessment documents: A1180 – Natural Glycolipids as a preservative in non-alcoholic beverages