Industry News
New head for food regulators
The food regulatory authority Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) will have a new chief executive officer, Stephen McCutcheon, commencing on 29 October 2007.
[ + ]NZ toughens imported food tests
The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) has announced it will be testing more imported foods to ensure that food vendors meet their legal responsibilities to ensure their produce is safe.
[ + ]FSANZ seeks public comment on food code changes
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has announced it is considering changes to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code - regulations that govern the sale of food sold in Australia and New Zealand.
[ + ]CSIRO backs Australian manufacturing
CSIRO has formed a new division for Materials Science and Engineering (CMSE) to help support Australia's manufacturing industry.
[ + ]Wal-Mart Packaging Scorecard graded poorly in Europe
The European Organization for Packaging and the Environment (EUROPEN) has urged the packaging industry to not allow the Wal-Mart Packaging Scorecard to become an industry standard.
[ + ]Canned milk design wins award
The Southern Cross Packaging Awards have been decided for the year, with the winners due to receive their awards at a presentation dinner at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Melbourne, 4 October.
[ + ]Classifying mild onions
Onions that are mild in flavour and suitable for eating raw are to be labelled as mild under a new onion classification system.
[ + ]Manufacturers with a fresh perspective on additives and preservatives
Food and drink manufacturers have turned their backs on additives and preservatives, preferring to go 'au naturel' and launch more 'additive- and preservative-free' products than ever before.
[ + ]Australian exports to be crippled by US–Korea trade deal
Australian agricultural and food exports to Korea could be slashed by 12.4 % if the US and Korea ratify their Free Trade Agreement (FTA), according to a study by the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF).
[ + ]US increases scrutiny on imported foods
The US is considering an imported food action plan that will drastically increase scrutiny on imported food quality, by shifting the onus of quality assurance onto the shoulders of the companies importing the produce.
[ + ]Aussie food gobbled by emerging economies
With the emphasis on Fine Food Australia this month, Australia’s export development agency has reported major demographic changes in worldwide food consumption.
[ + ]New directors elected
The Australian Packaging Machinery Association (APMA) has elected two new directors following two retirements.
[ + ]Food aid more harm than good
Food aid to developing countries could actually worsen rural poverty and distort global trade, according to a report by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC).
[ + ]Identifying counterfeit products by their DNA
DNA-embedded ink used in packaging may become the solution that authorities and companies need to combat counterfeit products.
[ + ]Food additives conclusively linked to hyperactivity
A study by researchers in the UK has shown evidence of increased levels of hyperactivity in young children consuming mixtures of some artificial food colours and preservatives, particularly sodium benzoate.
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