Food safety in Australia

Food safety in Australia concerns the production, distribution, preparation, and storage of food in Australia to prevent foodborne illness. Food standards organisations such as Food Standards Australia New Zealand aims to specify food standards[1] as well as a testing regime seek to ensure that the food Australians eat is safe for them.[2]

In recent years the quality and integrity of the food supply in Australia has been under observation. Incidents such as the contaminated frozen berries imported into Australia during the second half of 2014 saw a concern in particular for the health of mothers and the elderly due to the contaminants reportedly capable of causing listeria and cholera.[3] Australia is following the international trend away from government oversight towards a focus on preventative measures taken by the food industry.[4] In comparison with other developed countries Australia has higher rates for many illnesses due to foodborne pathogens. This may be caused by greater ascertainment of cases, higher rates of detection and increased risk factors.[5]

History

The first law regulating food in Australia was the Victorian Public Food Act of 1854. It was enacted in response to concerns with adulterated foods and allowed the Board of Health to inspect, seize and destroy unwholesome foods.[6]

After federation the states retained control of food safety.[6] These initially covered the manufacture and sale of food. Powers were expanded to include labelling requirements. A lack of uniformity amongst the various state laws hampered interstate trade and led to a series of conferences held between 1910 and 1927. In 1936, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) was established within the Department of Health to advise on matters of public health, which included food. It wasn't until 1952 that the NHMRC pressed for national uniformity of food and drug regulations. Eventually the Food Standards Committee was created to recommend food standards for states to adopt.[6] The first major issue was chemical additives, followed by microbiological standards. In 1989, the responsibility for food standards was transferred to the Bureau of Consumer Affairs within the Attorney-General's Department.[6]

Standards

Australia and New Zealand have a joint standards body for food safety: Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ).[2] It is an independent statutory agency established by the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991. FSANZ is part of the Australian Government's Health portfolio. FSANZ develops standards that regulate the use of ingredients, processing aids, colourings, additives, vitamins and minerals. Their standards also includes the composition of some foods, e.g. dairy, meat and beverages as well as standards developed by new technologies such as genetically modified foods. FSANZ is also responsible for some labelling requirements for packaged and unpackaged food, e.g. specific mandatory warnings or advisory labels.[7] FSANZ must ensure that labelling of packaged foods includes: name and description of the product, mandatory warning and advisory statements, ingredient list, date marking, nutrition information panel, percentage labelling, directions for storage and use.[8] Another main role of FSANZ is to manage food recall systems. When a product is declared to have safety issues like harmful bacteria or the presence of allergens the products needs to be removed from retail shelves and people's homes to ensure the health and safety of consumers.[9]

Raw milk

Raw milk cheese cannot be manufactured in Australia

Raw milk can be sold in Australia but must be labelled as "not for human consumption". It is often sold as "bath milk" for bathing. Raw milk contains such bacteria as salmonella, E. coli and listeria, which are the cause of many foodborne illnesses.[10] However this product is consumed by people who have a desire to drink raw milk, usually because they perceive it to a more natural less processed food.[11]

Domestic food safety

It is important to consider the spread of disease via the mishandling of food in homes, as experts agree this is a last line of defence against diseases that are food-borne.[12][13] Research conducted using families in Australia has highlighted the lack of distributed knowledge in regards to food handling both domestically and generally in the community,[14][15] as seen by a relatively poor knowledge of this subject.[14] The questioning of 524 families showed that 70% poorly handled cooked food products, 42% poorly handled raw foods and 47% of families did not appropriately wash their hands to maintain hygiene while preparing food. Further research of food stage practices showed that 81% of families placed food in refrigerators inappropriately and unsafe thawing of chicken was carried out by 76% of families.[15] These statistics raised the issue of unsafe handling of food and the need for families to be reminded of the detrimental health risks caused by the mishandling of food products in order to initiate change.[13]

Incidents

Mandatory reporting requirements exist in Australia for food disease outbreaks.[5] The Office of Health Protection within the Department of Health manages the OzFoodNet program, which employs epidemiologists around the country who investigate foodborne disease and develop appropriate responses to cases.[5]

1995
Mettwurst sausage

In 1995 a 4-year-old girl died from a fatal stroke after eating mettwurst produced by the Garibaldi company, and many other people were hospitalised. Toxins in the meat attacked blood vessels and kidneys. 23 children developed lifelong damage to their kidneys, suffering Hemolytic-uremic syndrome.[16]

1996

In 1996, more than 500 people fell ill after consuming peanut butter contaminated with Salmonella. Around 50 of these cases were linked to Kraft peanut butter, where the peanuts had been contaminated with mouse droppings in the roasting process.[17][18][19]

1999

Nippy's fresh chilled fruit juices were found to contain traces of Salmonella Typhimurium, infecting 507 people. Relevant juice products were recalled and the contamination was eventually traced to fruit from one supplier.[20][21]

2007

In March 2007, Long and Linda Fou, owners of the Homebush French Golden Hot Bakery in NSW, pleaded guilty to handling and selling unsafe food. They were fined $42 000. 319 people were poisoned during the incident.[22]

2010

Around 500 people alleged they had suffered thyroid dysfunction after dangerous levels of iodine were found in Bonsoy brand soy milk, due to the formulation used in the product between 2004 and 2009, which replaced pure kombu seaweed with kombu powder. In 2014, the milk's Japanese producers and Australian distributors agreed to pay a $25 million class action settlement—the largest ever food safety settlement in Australia.[23]

2014

In December 2014, a 3-year-old girl died, apparently after drinking raw milk sold as bath milk. Other children were admitted to hospital.[24]

2015

In February 2015, a recall of frozen berries imported from China was issued after at least 12 people contracted hepatitis A following their consumption of the product. Poor hygiene by Chinese workers or contaminated water supplies in China are suspected as the cause.[25]

References

  1. ↑ Ghosh, Dilip (14 April 2014). "Food safety regulations in Australia and NewZealand Food Standards". Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. 94 (10). doi:10.1002/jsfa.6657. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Corporate Plan 2012-2015". Food Standards Australia New Zealand. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  3. ↑ "Food safety regulations in Australia and New Zealand food standards". The Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. 14 April 2014. doi:10.1002/jsfa.6657. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  4. ↑ Unnevehr, Laurian; Nancy Hirschhorn (2000). Food Safety Issues in the Developing World, Volumes 23-469. World Bank Publications. p. 33. ISBN 0821347705. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 Motarjemi, Yasmine (2013). Encyclopedia of Food Safety. Academic Press. p. 296. ISBN 0123786134. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Richardson, Keith C.; William R. Porter (2009). "Development of Food Legislation Around the World: Australia and New Zealand". In Boisrobert, Christine; Stjepanovic, Aleksandra; Oh, Sangsuk; et al. Ensuring Global Food Safety: Exploring Global Harmonization. Academic Press. pp. 27–29. ISBN 0080889301. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  7. ↑ "About Us". Food Standards Australia New Zealand. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  8. ↑ Lidgard, Danielle; Yeatman, Heather (1 September 2002). "Dietitians' knowledge and perceptions of changes to food labelling in Australia". Nutrition & dietetics. 59 (3): 181–186. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  9. ↑ Belanger, Lorraine (1 June 2014). "Food recall protocol". Food Australia. 66 (3): 38–39. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  10. ↑ "The Dangers of Raw Milk: Unpasteurized Milk Can Pose a Serious Health Risk". U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved 7/4/15. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  11. ↑ D'arcy, Dr John (12 August 2012). "White lies: The truth about raw milk". Yahoo News. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  12. ↑ Scott, Elizabeth (2003). "Food safety and foodborne disease in 21st century homes". The Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases. 14 (5): 277–280. ISSN 1180-2332. PMC 2094945Freely accessible. PMID 18159469.
  13. 1 2 Byrd-Bredbenner, Carol; Berning, Jacqueline; Martin-Biggers, Jennifer; Quick, Virginia (2013-09-02). "Food Safety in Home Kitchens: A Synthesis of the Literature". International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 10 (9): 4060–4085. doi:10.3390/ijerph10094060. PMC 3799528Freely accessible. PMID 24002725. Retrieved 2015-04-16.
  14. 1 2 Worsley, Anthony; Wang, Wei C.; Byrne, Stephanie; Yeatman, Heather (2013-04-01). "Patterns of Food Safety Knowledge among Australians: A Latent Class Approach". Journal of Food Protection. 76 (4): 646–652. doi:10.4315/0362-028X.JFP-12-449. Retrieved 2015-04-16.
  15. 1 2 Mitakakis, T; Sinclair, M (2004). "Food safety in family homes in melbourne, australia". Journal of Food Protection (67). Retrieved http://www.foodprotection.org. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  16. ↑ Fewster, Sean (23 November 2011). "Garibaldi victims finally paid, bringing saga to an end". The Advertiser. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  17. ↑ "Food Safety Tests". The Buzz - ABC Radio National. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 24 April 2004. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  18. ↑ Jargon, Julie; Zhang, Jane (15 January 2009). "Peanut-Butter Probe Focuses on Georgia Plant". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  19. ↑ McDonald, Lynette Maree; Hartel, Charmine E.J. (2000). "Peanut butter, salmonella poisoning and children: On becoming "involved" and angry following a company crisis.". Queensland Review. 7 (1): 69–76. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  20. ↑ "Nippy's - A Salmonella Outbreak & Company Under Threat". Golden Target Awards. Public Relations Institute of Australia. 7 February 2012. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  21. ↑ "Dowdell v Knispel Fruit Juices Pty Ltd [2003] FCA 851" (PDF). Federal Court of Australia. 13 August 2003. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  22. ↑ Drake, Isobel (6/1/09). "Australian Food News". Australian Food News. Retrieved 7/4/15. Check date values in: |access-date=, |date= (help)
  23. ↑ Younger, Emma (24 November 2014). "Bonsoy toxic soy milk victims on track for share of $25m payout; thought to be record-setting settlement". ABC News. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  24. ↑ "Raw milk recalled after Vic toddler death". The Daily Telegraph. 12 December 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  25. ↑ "Frozen berries Heptitus A scare". ABC News Australia. 17 February 2015.

Attribution

This Wikipedia article uses text from the website "Food Standards Australia New Zealand" published by Food Standards Australia New Zealand under CC-BY 3.0 AU license (accessed on 19 February 2015, archived on 19 February 2015).

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