Federal Government signals sweeping reforms for the food industry

The Australian Government Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing, Catherine King, recently chaired the sixth meeting of the Food and Health Dialogue on 25 March 2011. This has massive implications for the industry as it is looking at everything from smaller portion sizes,  the reformulation of foods (to reduce salt, sugar, saturated fat) and the introduction of POS nutritional information.

Tracey Monaghan, Director of Quality Assurance ANZ, McDonald's Australia was the spokesperson for the industry at that event.

The Parliamentary Secretary Catherine King stated “With processed foods now forming a large part of the Australian diet, the influence of manufacturers, retailers and quick service restaurants over what we eat has never been greater,” Ms King said.

Members of the Food and Health Dialogue are:

• Ms Catherine King, Parliamentary Secretary for Health (Chair)
• Dr Lyn Roberts, Chief Executive Officer, National Heart Foundation of Australia
• Mr Andrew Hall, Director Corporate and Public Affairs, Woolworths
• Dr Manny Noakes, Senior Dietitian and Research Scientist, CSIRO
• Mr Michael Moore, Chief Executive Officer, Public Health Association of Australia
• Ms Kate Carnell, Chief Executive Officer Australian Food and Grocery Council
• Dr Amanda Lee, Director, Nutrition and Physical Activity Unit, Preventative Health Directorate, Queensland Health (state-territory representative)
• Ms Tracey Monaghan, Director of Quality Assurance ANZ, McDonald’s Australia (Quick Service Restaurant Forum representative)

They are holding category specific round-tables starting with soups, then processed poultry then pies.
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Gluten free labelling

The NSW Food Authority has tested 222 products bearing 'gluten free' labelling claims that were purchased from retail outlets across Sydney in 2010, and found 95% compliance with the legislative requirements for making such claims in Australia.

Samples were analysed by the Division of Analytical Laboratories (DAL) using the Biokits Gluten Assay Kit which is an accredited AOAC Official Method with a limit of reporting of 3 ppm. Levels of gluten ranging from 3ppm to 46ppm were detected in 11 products sampled.  However, these concentrations are not deemed to present a health and safety issue for people with coeliac disease. The products that did contain gluten included four samples of bread and bread mix, five samples of cereal and cereal products, one biscuit sample and one ready-to-eat mixed meal.

The Authority maintain they have taken regulatory action in keeping with the level of risk presented by the amount of gluten present in the products, which has included a written notification to the manufacturers of those products advising them to take immediate remedial action to ensure their products were compliant. The Authority will conduct follow-up testing on those products in the future to determine whether appropriate action has been taken.

The results from this survey are similar to those from the Authority's 2008 gluten free labelling survey where 95.3% of samples tested contained no detectable gluten.

The report of the survey 'Presence of gluten in foods labelled 'gluten free' 2010' is available on the NSW Food Authority website.

Recall: Foreign matter in Four ‘n Twenty pies

April 11, 2011

Patties Foods Ltd has announced an immediate recall on Four ‘n Twenty pies with a use-by date of 12, 13 and 14 July 2012, after the company found plastic fragments in a batch of the iconic Australian pies.


The recall applies to individually packaged pies, sold at a variety of convenience stores, service stations, milk bars, canteens and other small retail outlets. Also being recalled is the Four ‘n Twenty six-pack, sold at Woolworths, Coles/Bi Lo, Metcash/IGA and Franklins.

The company said it believed the plastic fragments were capable of causing illness or injury if consumed, and that customers should return the pies to the place of purchase for a full refund.