New – PDF document containing all of the Food Standards Code. This is very useful as it is searchable and contains all the standards and schedules. Access it here.

Amendments to Food Standards Code:

Amendment 237 to vary maximum residue limits. Source: FSANZ

Amendment 236 included three applications

A1299 – Fructosyltransferase from Aspergillus oryzae as a processing aid FSANZ

A1301 – Triacylglycerol lipase from GM Komagataella phaffii as a processing aid FSANZ

A1303 – Food derived from herbicide-tolerant sugar beet line KWS20-1 Source: FSANZ

Approvals: An extraordinary meeting of the FSANZ Board was held on 26th March to notify the decisions:

A1269 – Cultured Quail as a Novel Food (this is the first cell-cultured food approved by FSANZ Board)
P1049 – Carbohydrate and sugar claims on alcoholic beverages
P1059 – Energy labelling on alcoholic beverages

Call for submissions

A1318 – Steviol glycosides produced by enzymatic conversion using enzymes produced by GM Escherichia coli BL21

Nutrition labelling. In Food Standards April newsletter there is a discussion on the work progressing on front- and back-of-pack food labelling through parallel projects covering the Health Star Rating (HSR) system and the nutrition information panel (NIP). 74 submissions were received from stakeholders. A report is expected to go to food ministers for consideration early next year.

Recalls 

* Eskal Salted Caramel Creams – due to the presence of an undeclared allergen (milk) NSW Food Authority

* Adora Handmade Chocolates – Easter Egg Milk Chocolate Rocky Road and Easter Egg Dark Chocolate Rocky Road – due to the presence of an undeclared allergen (pistachio). NSW Food Authority

* Uberbrau Ultra Low Alcohol Lager and Henninger Lager Bottle – due to the presence of a chemical on the outer packaging producing an unpleasant odour. Source: FSANZ

New Zealand Food safety insights, emerging risks, and current issues bulletins:

These bulletins contain news from all over the world.

2nd April bulletin

10th April bulletin

24th April bulletin

New Zealand Food 2025 food recalls:

* Pendarves – imported whole frozen anchovies due to the possible presence of a marine biotoxin

* New World Ravenswood brand Chicken Cordon Bleu due to the presence of an undeclared allergen (milk)

* Little Island brand Hokey Pokey Coconut Ice Cream due to the presence of an undeclared allergen (milk).

* Lianhua Supermarket brand ready-to-eat Whole Chicken and Pork Head Pieces due to the lack of required food safety controls

* Foodstuffs Own Brands – Pams brand Afghan Oat Baked Bars as the product may contain foreign matter (metal)

* The Lactation Station brand Coconut Cranberry Lactation Cookies due to presence of an undeclared allergen (milk).

* Happy Snacks Limited – Dr Bugs brand Fruit Candy Popcorn as the product may contain foreign matter (metal screw).

* Foodstuffs Own Brands – Gilmours brand Beef Stock & Bouillon due to the presence of an undeclared allergen (gluten).

Food more information on the above recalls click on the links provided: NZ MPI food recalls

Food news from USA provided by Rend Al Mondhiry, Partner at Amin Wasserman Gurnani, LLP

* New Mexico Becomes the Third U.S. State to Ban PFAS
Following the lead of Maine (2021) and Minnesota (2023), New Mexico is the third U.S. state in prohibit intentionally added PFAS in consumer products. House Bill 212 was signed into law on April 8, 2025, and, among other things, prohibits the sale, offer for sale, distribution, and distribution for sale of the following products if they contain intentionally added PFAS:
– Cookware, food packaging, dental floss, juvenile product, and firefighting foam beginning January 1, 2027;
– Carpets and rugs, cleaning products, cosmetics, fabric treatment, feminine hygiene products, textiles and textile furnishings, ski wax, and upholstered furniture beginning January 1, 2028. Beginning January 1, 2032, the ban will apply to all products containing intentionally added PFAS unless an exemption applies.

* Texas Attorney General Investigates “Healthy” Food Labeling. General Ken Paxton announced an investigation into WK Kellogg Co. for potentially violating the state’s consumer protection laws. AG Paxton is targeting Kellogg’s for its alleged “healthy” food labeling on products that contain petroleum-based artificial food colorings linked to disease and other health problems. The April 5, 2025 press release also notes the company has removed these ingredients from foods in other countries, but hasn’t done so in the U.S. Read more here.

US Announces Plans to Phase Out Petroleum-Based Food Dyes

Two articles contributed separately and independently both Rend Al Mondhiry, Partner at from Amin Wasserman Gurnani, and Gary Kennedy, from Correct Food Systems

From Rend Al Mondhiry:

On April 22, 2025, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced measures to phase out the use of petroleum-based synthetic food dyes in the American food supply as part of the administration’s Make America Healthy Again initiative. Specifically, FDA intends to take following actions:
1.    Establishing a national standard and timeline for the food industry to transition from petrochemical-based dyes to natural alternatives.
2.    Initiating the process to revoke authorization for two synthetic food colorings—Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B—within the coming months.
3.    Working with industry to eliminate six remaining synthetic dyes—FD&C Green No. 3, FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Yellow No. 5, FD&C Yellow No. 6, FD&C Blue No. 1, and FD&C Blue No. 2—from the food supply by the end of next year.
4.    Authorizing four new natural color additives in the coming weeks, including calcium phosphate, Galdieria extract blue, gardenia blue, butterfly pea flower extract, and other natural alternatives to synthetic food dyes.
5.    Partnering with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to conduct comprehensive research on how food additives impact children’s health and development.
6.    Requesting food companies to remove FD&C Red No. 3 sooner than the 2027-2028 deadline previously required.

More information here.

And from Gary Kennedy, an international perspective:

Earlier this week, US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary announced plans to phase out synthetic dyes from American food suppliers by the end of 2026. The initiative targets eight petroleum-based dyes, citing concerns over potential links to health issues such as ADHD and other behavioural problems in children, although to date, the FDA has assessed dozens of human studies and found no causal relationship. Leading food safety authorities, including EFSA, JECFA, FSANZ and others, have reaffirmed food colour safety for years. While not a ban, the FDA will develop a national standard and transition timeline.
The International Association of Color Manufacturers (IACM), representing the global colour industry, has published a statement in response, which you can view here. IACM expressed concern over the announcement, emphasising that colour additives have been rigorously evaluated by global health authorities and deemed safe for consumption. They warned that the proposed reformulation timeline is ambitious and urged the FDA to maintain a science-based approach and provide clear industry guidelines.
Although not a legal mandate, this FDA announcement could have global implications, potentially prompting similar initiatives in other regions. The move reflects growing public scrutiny of synthetic ingredients. While FSANZ has concluded that the estimated dietary exposure to synthetic colours, including those commonly used in beverages, is well within acceptable limits, Australian regulators and producers may be prompted to reevaluate standards.

More information here

In the press

Protein powders in the spotlight – different opinions

* Are protein powders a waste of money? Published on abc.net.au

* Too much of a good thing? The problem with protein. Published in Sydney Morning Herald.

* Clean Label Project puts Protein Powder under the microscope, critics call the report misleading. Published in NutraIngredients USA.

Cosmetics and TGA listed sunscreens