New Allergen Recall
The following is a current recall notice from Food Standards Australia New Zealand and is included here with permission.
Date published: 23 November 2021
Product information
Fresh Food Enterprises is conducting a recall of IQ Bar Chocolate Sea Salt 45g, IQ Bar Peanut Butter Chip 45g and IQ Bar Almond Butter Chip 45g. The products have been available for sale at independent stores and IGA supermarkets in NSW, ACT, VIC, SA, TAS and WA.
Date markings
IQ Bar Chocolate Sea Salt 45g BB June 10 2022
IQ Bar Peanut Butter Chip 45g BB June 11 2022
IQ Bar Almond Butter Chip 45g BB Apr 14 2022
Problem
The recall is due to the presence of an undeclared allergen (milk).
Food safety hazard
Any consumers who have a milk allergy or intolerance may have a reaction if these products are consumed.
Country of origin
USA
What to do
Consumers who have a milk allergy or intolerance should not consume these products and should return the products to the place of purchase for a full refund.
For further information please contact:
Fresh Food Enterprises
Free call 1800 731 845
- Published in News
Oyster recall
The following is a Recall Notice from Food Standards Australia New Zealand and is included here with permission.
Raw Pacific Oysters
Date published: 19 November 2021
Product information
SA Health has issued an emergency order to recall raw Pacific oysters (Magallana gigas) produced in Coffin Bay, SA, including fresh and frozen products.
The oysters have been available for sale direct from farms, seafood outlets, grocery stores and supermarkets in SA, NSW, ACT, QLD, VIC, NT and WA.
Date markings
All production dates from and including 4 September 2021 up to and including 16 November 2021.
Problem
The recall is due to microbial (Vibrio parahaemolyticus) contamination.
Food safety hazard
Food products contaminated with (Vibrio parahaemolyticus) may cause illness if consumed.
Country of origin
Australia
What to do
Consumers are advised not to eat raw Pacific oysters from Coffin Bay, including fresh and frozen products. Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice. Consumers should dispose of the oysters or return the oysters to the place of purchase for a full refund.
For further information please contact:
SA Health
(08) 8226 7100
- Published in News
New Recalls
The following are recall notices from Food Standards Australia New Zealand and are included here with permission.
TWO GOOD TO GO TASTY CHEESE PRODUCTS
Date published: 16 November 2021
Product information
Manassen Foods Australia Pty Ltd is conducting a recall of the above products. The products have been available for sale at Woolworths and independent grocery stores including IGAs in NSW, QLD, VIC, TAS, SA and WA.
Date markings
GOOD TO GO TASTY CHEESE & Mild SALAMI BITES 40g – USE BY 21.12.21, 24.12.21 and 13.01.22
GOOD TO GO TASTY CHEESE & CABANOSSI 40g – USE BY 15.12.21 and 23.12.21
Problem The recall is due to (listeria monocytogenes) microbial contamination.
Food safety hazard
Food products contaminated with (listeria monocytogenes) may cause illness. Listeria monocytogenes may cause illness in pregnant women and their unborn babies, the elderly and people with low immune systems.
Country of origin Australia
What to do
Consumers should not eat these products. Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice. Customers should return the products to the place of purchase for a full refund.
For further information please contact:
Manassen Foods Australia Pty Ltd
0418 252 086
customerservice@manassen.com.au
SNACKERS MARKET TASTY CHEESE AND MINI CRACKERS AND PRETZELS
Date published: 18 November 2021
Product information
ALDI is conducting a recall of Snackers Market Little Pickers Cubed Tasty Cheese and Mini Crackers (35g) and Snackers Market Little Pickers Cubed Tasty Cheese and Pretzels (40g). The products have been available for sale at ALDI stores.
Date markings All USE BY dates up to 03.02.22
Problem The recall is due to microbial (Listeria monocytogenes) contamination.
Food safety hazard
Listeria may cause illness in pregnant women and their unborn babies, the elderly and people with low immune systems.
Country of origin Australia
What to do
Consumers should not eat this product. Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice and should return the products to the place of purchase for a full refund.
For further information please contact:
ALDI Food Recall Hotline
1800 709 993
- Published in News
Food Safety Week 2021 is about to start
The following is a media release for the Food Safety Information Council and is included here with permission.
The Food Safety Information Council is launching the 25th Australian Food Safety Week 13 to 20 November by urging Australian consumers not to become complacent about food poisoning and to reduce their risk of becoming one of the estimated 4.1 million cases of food poisoning by being prepared with a food safety toolbox.
Cathy Moir, Council Chair, said that as we come out of COVID-19 lockdowns, we don’t want to put additional strain on our health systems through easily preventable cases of food poisoning.
‘For example, our recent research shows that there has been a 15% drop in people washing or sanitising their hands since the same time last year so we really want people to keep up a high rate of handwashing especially after going to the toilet and before handling food. This year’s theme ‘Food safety – be prepared’ is aimed at building resilience in the community by setting up a basic food safety toolkit and encouraging public engagement with food safety courses,’ Ms Moir said.
‘In addition to COVID-19, we have had increasing numbers of other natural disasters such as bushfires, floods and major power outages. We want our community to be prepared for these with a simple food safety toolbox that you can put together in advance and use in these 4 simple stages:
- Buy thermometers. Next time you are at the shops, or shop online, purchase a fridge thermometer and a cooking/meat thermometer which are available from kitchenware, hardware and BBQ/outdoor stores. They can cost as little as $15 for dial thermometers or you can get more accurate digital thermometers.
- Check your fridge temperature. Use your fridge thermometer to check your fridge is running at 5°C or below to stop the growth of most food poisoning bacteria and reduce food waste. ‘Use buy’ dates on refrigerated food only apply if your fridge is running at or below this temperature. Place the thermometer on a lower shelf where you can easily read it. When checking temperature do not keep the fridge door open too long as you are measuring air temperature.
- Use your cooking/meat thermometer. It won’t do any good if your thermometer never leaves your kitchen drawer! Use it to check that high risk foods such as poultry, mince, sausages, hamburger patties, liver, leftovers and rolled roasts reach at least 75°C in the centre. Egg dishes need to be at least 72 °C in the centre (or until the white is firm and the yolk thickens).
- Take a food safety course. We would love to see everyone in the community take a basic food safety course and learn more about food safety. This will help keep you and your family safer and open up job opportunities for you as food handlers in cafes and restaurants or in the child care, aged care and disability sectors. You will also need these food safety skills if you want to develop your newly developed culinary skills into a business, help at the school canteen or even run a community sausage sizzle find out more
‘Learn more about food safety and test your knowledge and take the food safety quiz on the Food Safety Information Council website www.foodsafety.asn.au ,’ Ms Moir concluded.
The Food Safety Information Council would like to thank their members First for Training – Award winning, endorsed, high quality, low cost training https://firstfortraining.com.au/ and the Australian Chicken Meat Federation for their charitable donations to support Australian Food Safety Week.
Media Contacts:
Lydia Buchtmann, Food Safety Information Council, 0407 626 688
- Published in News
What do consumers think about food safety in Australia?
The University of Adelaide has recently released the results of the latest Food Insights Questionnaire (FoodIQ) survey about consumer reactions to food safety. The aim of the survey is to provide food regulators, health professionals and the food industry in general with information to support consumer needs.
The survey covers a range of topics associated with food safety, including; food choice values, concerns, label awareness, information source trust, and food expenditure.
The survey is actually seven waves of 1000 consumers each from across the country, with quotas for gender, age and location. The consumers must be over 18 and be the primary / joint grocery purchaser for the household.
The results show that supermarkets are the main source of fruit and vegetable. The main factors impacting purchase of any food were; price, taste, health, nutrition, country of origin and food safety.
The survey used a rating system of 1 to 7 with 7 being the highest. The confidence in the food safety of our food supply was given an average of 5.5 out of 7, and a minimum of 68 percent of those surveyed rated their confidence as at least a 3.5.
The most important food safety concerns were; imported foods, foodborne illness from bacteria / contaminants and pesticides/ pesticide residue in foods.
Country of origin of food products rated a 21 percent across all waves as the food system issue causing consumers to be “extremely concerned”, the welfare of animals and use of pesticides in food production followed at 18 percent, and use of antibiotics in food production was at 17 percent.
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), doctors/medical professionals, and the Food Safety Information Council, were considered by consumers across all the waves to have the highest level of trust with regard to food safety.
The Australian consumers’ responses to food safety incidents and outbreaks can be found at https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/science/Pages/Social-science-reviews.aspx
- Published in News
What is gene technology – possible changes to definition.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand is seeking public comment on a possible change to the definition for “food produced using gene technology” and “gene technology”.
The definitions are important because they help to determine the classification of genetically modified foods in the Food Standards Code.
The proposal for making this change to the Code is P1055 and is aimed at making the definitions clearer and easier to understand, especially when considering new and emerging technologies and processes.
To assist people with understand P1055, FSANZ is hosting a free webinar on 12 November 2021, the details are below;
When: 12 November 2021
Time: 10-11am (AEST) | 12-1pm (NZDT)
Where: Webex Cost: Free
Have your say about P1055 at https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/code/proposals/Pages/p1055-definitions-for-gene-technology-and-new-breeding-techniques.aspx
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- Published in News
New Recall
The following is a new recall notice from Food Standards Australia New Zealand and is included here with permission.
Coles Nature’s Kitchen Pizzas 250g
Date published: 29 October 2021
Product information
Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd is conducting a recall of Coles Nature’s Kitchen Meat-free Meal Lovers Pizza 250g, Coles Nature’s Kitchen Hawaiian-style Pizza 250g and Coles Nature’s Kitchen Veggie Pizza 250g. The product has been available for sale at Coles Supermarkets and Coles Local stores nationally, and from Coles Online.
Date markings
All Best Before Dates
Problem
The recall is due to the presence of an undeclared allergen (milk).
Food safety hazard
Customers who have a milk allergy or intolerance may have a reaction if they consume the product.
Country of origin
Australia
What to do
Any consumers with a milk allergy or intolerance should not consume the product and should return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund.
For further information please contact:
Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd
1800 061 562
- Published in News
New Recalls
The following are recall notices from Food Standards Australia New Zealand and are included here with permission.
Weis Dairy Free Dark Chocolate & Coconut Multipack (280mL)
Date published: 22 October 2021
Product information
Unilever Australia Limited is conducting a recall of Weis Dairy Free Dark Chocolate & Coconut Multipack (280mL). The product has been available for sale nationally at Woolworths, Coles and IGAs.
Date markings
9 Aug 2022 and 10 Aug 2022
Problem
The recall is due to the presence of an undeclared allergen (soy).
Food safety hazard
Any consumers who have a (soy) allergy or intolerance may have a reaction if the product is consumed.
Country of origin
Australia
What to do
Consumers who have a (soy) allergy or intolerance should not consume this product and should return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund.
For further information please contact:
Unilever Australia Limited
1800 801 414
consumerrelations.uanz@unilever.com
www.unilever.com.au
Barossa Fine Foods ham products
Date published: 25 October 2021
Product information
Knoll Consultants and Investments Pty Ltd is conducting a recall of two ham products. Please see below for further information.
Food safety hazard
Food products contaminated with (listeria monocytogenes) may cause illness if consumed. Listeria may cause illness in pregnant women and their unborn babies, the elderly and people with low immune systems.
Country of origin
Australia
What to do
Consumers should not eat this product. Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice and should return the products to the place of purchase for a full refund.
For further information please contact:
Knoll Consultants and Investments (trading under Barossa Fine Foods)
08 8255 3900
Nature’s Delight Xmas Liquorice Mix 500G
Date published: 26 October 2021 (Updated 27 October 2021 – the names of the supermarkets in QLD have been amended)
Product information
Nocelle Foods Pty Ltd is conducting a recall of the above product. The product has been available for sale at Drakes Supermarkets (QLD, SA), Foodland stores (SA), Foodworks (SA), IGAs (SA, WA) and independent grocery stores (SA, WA).
Date markings
BEST BEFORE: 29-09-2022
Problem
The recall is due to a misleading statement about an allergen (gluten). The product contains gluten but the label has a ‘Gluten Free’ claim.
Food safety hazard
Any consumers who have a (gluten) allergy or intolerance may have a reaction if the product is consumed.
Country of origin
Australia
What to do
Consumers who have a gluten allergy or intolerance should not consumer this product and should return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund.
For further information please contact:
Nocelle Foods Pty Ltd
(08) 8300 2700
- Published in News
Interesting survey result for Global Handwashing Day
The following is a media release from the Food Safety Information Council and is included here with permission.
Australians washing and sanitising their hands 15% less than this time last year
Global Handwashing Day 15 October 2021
The Food Safety Information Council today released Omnipoll national research for Global Handwashing Day showing there has been a 15% decrease in the number of times in Australians washed or sanitised their hands a day, on average, since the same time last year.
Food Safety Information Council Communication Director, Lydia Buchtmann, said that handwashing plays an important role in reducing rates of food poisoning and other infectious diseases.
‘In the survey Omnipoll asked how often people washed their hands and used hand sanitiser on the previous day. While 1 in 6 people couldn’t recall how often, the others reported that, on average, they washed their hands 6.7 times a day (compared with 7.5 times a day last year) and sanitised them 3.3 times a day (compared with 3.9 times a day last year),’ Ms Buchtmann said.
‘There was still a handwashing difference between genders with women saying they washed their hands, on average, 7.6 times a day and men only 5.9 times. Women sanitised their hands on average 3.4 times a day and men 3.2 times.
‘As with last year, families with children were more likely to wash their hands and use sanitiser than those without children. People over 50 were less likely to use sanitiser, possibly because they were less likely to go out and about as others during the COVID-19 pandemic. There was no correlation between respondents’ vaccination status and levels of hand washing or sanitising.
‘This Global Handwashing Day we encourage Australians to keep your handwashing rates up and reduce your risk of food poisoning by always washing your hands with soap and running water for 20 seconds and drying thoroughly (or using hand sanitiser if hand washing facilities aren’t available) on these occasions:
- before handling, preparing and eating food
- after touching raw meat, fish, shell eggs or poultry
- after using the toilet, attending to the toileting of children (or others), and changing nappies
- after blowing your nose
- after touching a pet
- after gardening
- after returning home
‘To remind Australia of the importance of good hand hygiene, the Food Safety Information Council has launched an education package today including videos and posters for both adults and children that give 4 simple tips for hand washing correctly. We strongly encourage schools to take the Glitterbug challenge to see how well children wash their hands with a fun scientific experiment using a UV torch. The package can be downloaded from our website here and we encourage people to watch the video and to put up the posters at home, in their workplace, or at school,’ Ms Buchtmann concluded.
The Food Safety Information Council would like to thank their members OnSolution and Accord Australasia who made this research and videos possible through charitable donations. We’d also like to thank the students and staff at St Aloysius College in Adelaide for their assistance in making the Glitterbug video.
Accord Australasia is the peak national industry association representing manufacturers and suppliers of hygiene, personal care and specialty products, their raw materials suppliers and service providers. Their industry’s products are used every day across the nation in homes, public places, commercial premises, institutions, industry and farms. https://accord.asn.au/
The research was conducted nationally online over the period September 23-27, 2021, among a sample of 1215 people aged 18 years and over. To reflect the overall population distribution, results were post-weighted to Australian Bureau of Statistics data (Census 2016) on age, gender, area and highest level of education completed.
Media contacts:
Lydia Buchtmann, Food Safety Information Council, 0407 626 688 or info@foodsafety.asn.au
Craig Brock, Accord, 0422 363 646
- Published in News
Another alcohol related recall for this month.
The following is a recall notice from the News South Wales Food Authority and is included here with permission.
Recall: Banks and Burbidge Alcohol Free Gin 700ml
17 October 2021
The NSW Food Authority advises:
Waterloo Bay Distilling Company is conducting a recall of Banks and Burbidge Alcohol Free Gin 700ml. The product has been available for sale at Dan Murphy’s selected stores and stores online in NSW, ACT, QLD, VIC, TAS, SA, NT, WA.
Product details:
- Banks and Burbidge Alcohol Free Gin, 700ml
- Best Before 11 May 2023
Problem: The recall is due to a potential for microbial contamination.
Food safety hazard: Food products with potential microbial contamination may cause illness if consumed.
Country of origin: Australia.
What to do: Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice. Consumers should not drink this product and should dispose of it safely. Consumers seeking a full refund should contact the place of purchase for instructions.
For further information please contact:
Waterloo Bay Distilling Company
0429 773 743
- Published in News