HOW DO CONSUMER PROTECTION PRACTICES HELP TO PREVENT UNSAFE

FOOD SUPPLY?

1 .6 WHY IS IT NECESSARY TO LABEL PACKAGED FOOD?

Food Regulations & Food Labelling

Who are FSANZ?

Independent authority who develops food standards for composition, labelling and contaminants that apply to all foods produced or imported for sale in Australia and New Zealand.

‘Regulates the use of ingredients, processing aids, colourings, additives, vitamins and minerals. The code also covers the composition of some foods e.g. dairy, meat and beverages as well as standards developed by new technologies such as genetically modified foods. We are also responsible for labelling or both packaged and unpackaged food including specific mandatory warnings or advisory labels.’ (FSANZ 2012)

Who are FSANZ?

FSANZ responsibilities include: Developing standards for food manufacturing, labelling,

processing, hygiene and primary production Providing information to consumers Coordinating national food surveillance, enforcement and

food recall Conducting consumer and industry research Undertaking dietary exposure modelling and scientific risk

assessment Providing risk assessment advice on imported food

‘FSANZ’s ultimate goal is to ensure Australia and New Zealand have a safe food supply and well informed consumers.’ (FSANZ 2012)

Food Standards Code

The Australia New Zealand Food Standards code is divided in to 4 chapters: General food standards such as labelling requirements, use-by dates

and nutritional information Food production standards affecting specific classes of food such as

cereals, meat, eggs, fruit and vegetables. Food safety standards Primary production standards including individual standards for

seafood, poultry, meat and dairy.

The code protects consumers by ensuring food sold for human consumption: Is free from harmful levels of additives and contaminants Meets consumer expectations in terms of composition and

quality Is labelled so that the majority of consumers are able to

understand the labelling

What is HACCP?

Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) is an internationally recognised food safety system.

‘Our purpose is to identify and manage hazards, reducing the risks of food contamination events through the development, implementation and ongoing operation of comprehensive, HACCP based Food Safety Programmes.’ (HACCP 2012)

Food sale premises are required to provide documentation to show the steps taken to prevent customer illness, complaint or contamination of food.

Food sellers must be registered with the local council. Council checks on training qualifications of staff and holds

inspections of the outlet to check cleanliness, contamination and OHS hazards.

HACCP Process

Hazard AnalysisIdentification of critical control points Establishing critical limits for CCPMonitoring CCP requirements Corrective actionRecord keepingVerification

Food Labelling

Food must be labelled in accordance with the requirements of the Food Standards Code.

The purpose of food labelling is to help consumers make informed choices about the food they eat.

All foods for retail sale must be labelled; however, there are some exemptions including: Unpackaged foods Food in an inner package not designed for individual sale Food made and packaged on the premises from where it is sold Food packaged in the presence of the purchaser e.g. sandwich Food delivered at the customers request e.g. pizza Packages smaller than 100sq cm, nor foods with minimal

nutrition like herbs, spices, tea and coffee.

Food Labelling

All information must be in the English language, set out legibly and prominently and contrast distinctly with the background.

Information in other languages is permitted provided it doesn’t contradict the required information.

Must not be misleading. Must include the food listed

Food Labelling Requirements

The name or description of the food The name must not be misleading

Food recall information The contact details of the manufacturer, packer, vendor or

importer, and the lot identification must be included Cannot be a PO box

Warnings and advisory statements Contain information about foods that may:

Cause severe allergic reactions (peanuts, seafood, fish, milk, gluten, eggs)

Not be suitable for some people (soy milk with less than 2.5% of fat is an unsuitable complete food for infants.

Cause a possible health risk (caffeine in cola, guarana)

Food Labelling Requirements

Ingredient Listing All ingredients must be listed in

descending order by weight, including added water. The ingredient listed first is present in

the largest amount. The ingredient listed last is present in

the least amount. Declare food additives

The number code for the specific additive must be listed

Declare vitamins and minerals added to the food

The percentage of the key ingredients

Food Labelling Requirements

Nutrition Information Panel Number of serves in the package Average quantity per serve For each serving of food and for 100g the average:

Energy (kj), Protein (g), Total fat (g), Saturated fat (g), Carbohydrate (g), Sugar (g) and Sodium (mg).

If a nutrient claim is made the panel must declare the relevant nutrient. For example, cholesterol, fibre or fat.

‘Percentage daily intakes are based on an average adult diet of 8,700kj. Your daily intake may be higher or lower depending upon your energy needs.’

Added nutrients must be declared

Food Labelling Requirements

Directions for use and storage Specific conditions required for health and safety

Date Marking Foods with a shelf life of less than two years must have a

‘best before’ or ‘use-by’ date. The ‘best before’ date refers to the quality of the food -

Can be consumed after the ‘best before’ date, but the food may have lost quality and some nutritional value.

A ‘Use Buy’ date shows the date food should not be consumed after for health and safety reasons.

Bread is an exception – can be labelled with a ‘baked on’ or ‘baked for’ date

Food Labelling Requirements

Percentage Labelling The percentage of key ingredients in

the food product must be listed. For example, the amount of meat in a meat pie.

Country of Origin ‘Product of Australia’ means each

significant ingredient of the food must be Australian and all processing occurs in Australia.

‘Made in Australia’ means the food is made in Australia, but may have some significant imported ingredients.

`SPC is proud to source all of its navy beans for SPC baked beans from Australia, from great places like the Queensland town of Kingaroy.’

`If you're not eating SPC Baked Beans, you're eating beans sourced from overseas. And that means you're not supporting Australian farmers.’

Country of Origin –Media Focus

Country of Origin –Media Focus

Example – Food Label

Example – Food Label

Nutrition Claims

‘A nutrition claim on a food label means the words, pictures or symbol indicate a food has a nutritional property.’ (HEIA 2008)

Positive: ‘sweetened’, ‘salted’, ‘high fibre’ and ‘calcium enriched.’

Negative: ‘Unsalted’, ‘No added sugar’, ‘low in fat’.

When a nutrition claim is made, more information is required on the nutrition information panel.

Symbols on Food Labels

Specific Claims

The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code states several conditions for specific claims: Low Joule

Energy value must be less than 80kj per 100ml or 170kj per 100g

Gluten Free Contain no detectable gluten and no

oats or malt Low Gluten

Contain no more than 0.02% gluten Low Sodium

Contain no more than 120mg sodium per 100g of food

Specific Claims

The Code of Practice on nutrient claims in food labels and in advertisements states several other requirement, which are no included in the code: Low Fat

No more than 3g fat per 100g serve Reduced Fat

No more than 75% total fat of the food High Fibre

Must contain at least 3g of fibre per serve Fat Free

Must not contain more than 0.15g of fat per 100g serve Diet

Must have an energy content of no more than 80kj per 100ml or 170kj per 100g

Light or lite The characteristic that makes it ‘light’ must be stated

Health Claims

‘…Statements that links food to health and prevention of disease’ (HEIA 2008)

These claims are prohibited by FSANZ unless they relate to folate and the reduced risk of neural tube defects in unborn babies. ‘Calcium is good for your bones’ ‘Calcium may help prevent

osteoporosis’

Genetically Modified (GM) Foods

A gene from a plant or animal is sliced into the chromosomes of another species to improve its characteristics.

Foods with a discernible genetically modified component have to be labelled.

Typical genetically modified foods include those with cotton oil, soybeans, corn, potatoes and sugar beet

Irradiated foods must be labelled. In Australia, only herbs, spices and few imported fruits are allowed to be irradiated.

Fortification of food with vitamins and minerals

Vitamins and minerals may be added to food where there is demonstrated evidence of a potential health benefit, and it is clear there is no harm.

Mandatory fortification is where food manufacturers are required to add certain vitamins and minerals to food due to a significant public health need.

Voluntary fortification allows manufacturers to choose what vitamins and minerals they want to add to food, providing they are permitted in the Food Standards Code.

Standard

2.1.1 Thiamin to flour for bread making

Mandatory

2.4.2 Vitamin D to margarines and oil spreads

Mandatory

2.6.2 Fluoride added to bottle water

Voluntary

2.6.4 Vitamins to formulated caffeinated beverages

Voluntary

Source: Magee 2010 p140)

Revision – Exam Question 2011

1. Identify what piece of information is missing from the food label above?.i. Explain why this piece of information is required.

2. State one nutritional claim made by the company about this product.

Revision Guide Question

1. List three legal requirements for labelling that appear on Label A or Label B. I. Explain how each of these requirements benefit the

consumer. 2. What information is missed from label B?

I. Why does this only apply to label B? 3. Why does Label A not meet the legal requirements for

labelling?

Revision Guide Question

1. Marketing is an important tool used by manufacturers: Outline two methods by manufactures to promote the

nutritional benefits of food products to a consumer. Identify four methods used by the food industry to

communicate information about its products to consumers.

Outline three strategies used by the food industry and government in response to environmental concerns about food packaging materials.