Chemicals in packaging – results are good
The following are media releases from Food Standards Australia New Zealand and are included here with it’s permission.
| Results of survey of chemicals in food from packaging reassuring |
The results of a survey on packaging chemicals in food are reassuring for consumers, Food Standards Australia New Zealand Chief Executive Steve McCutcheon said today.
Mr McCutcheon said the second phase of the Australian Total Diet Study looked at chemicals that might migrate from packaging into food.
“There were no detections at all for half of the 30 chemicals,” Mr McCutcheon said.
“We detected very low residues of some chemicals in a small number of samples. After undertaking a very conservative safety assessment on these very low levels, FSANZ has concluded there are no safety concerns.
“The screening study identified that further work was required for two of the chemicals tested for (phthalates) and FSANZ will be sampling a wider range of foods for these chemicals so a full dietary exposure assessment can be undertaken.
“The ATDS results will inform an ongoing review of current food packaging regulations.”
More information
Read a summary of analysis (pdf 38.6 kb) | (word 128 kb)
Read more about our work on food packaging
Consultation on irradiation labelling requirements begins
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) today released a consultation paper on the existing labelling requirements for irradiated foods.
FSANZ Chief Executive Officer Steve McCutcheon said ministers responsible for food regulation had asked FSANZ to review the requirements in response to a labelling review recommendation.
“It’s important to note that no change to requirements is being proposed at this stage,” Mr McCutcheon said.
“FSANZ is seeking submissions on a range of technical and economic issues related to the mandatory requirements and how information about food irradiation is communicated to consumers.”
“FSANZ is expecting to provide a report to ministers in the second half of 2016.”
The closing date for submissions is 29 March 2016.
More information
Consultation paper – Recommendation 34 mandatory labelling irradiation
Food irradiation (including current permissions)
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