Allergens and food poisoning fears, is Australia’s food system as safe as the government’s reassurances?

Published 2021년 9월 27일

Tridge summary

The Australian government has declared that the country's food supply is reliable, safe, and nutritious, citing the results of the 26th Australian Total Diet Study which found low levels of persistent organic pollutants. However, concerns have been raised about food recalls, allergens, and microbial contamination. The article highlights the volatility of food recalls in Australia, with a rise in 2020, and a call for improved packaging practices to prevent undeclared allergens. It also emphasizes the concern over salmonella contamination, Australia's highest rate compared to similar countries, and the risk posed by imported foods, as demonstrated by a recent hepatitis A outbreak linked to imported dates. Despite the overall high food safety standards, the article underscores the need for continued vigilance and efforts to further enhance the food safety system in Australia.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

The Australian government has continually publicized its food supply as ‘reliable, safe and nutritious’, and the results of its 26th Australian Total Diet Study – which, interestingly, only looked at persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as dioxins and polycholorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in this edition – appeared to confirm this. PCBs have been shown to be carcinogenic, whereas dioxins are also highly toxic compounds which can cause health issues such as cancer, immune system damage and hormone interference. “We looked at 33 foods typical of the Australian diet, taking 600 samples across all Australian states and territories [and tested these for POPs],” Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) said in a formal statement. “Our results show that while the selected chemicals are present in the environment, the levels are low and there are no food safety concerns for Australian consumers.” FSANZ Chair Steve McCutcheon added that this should serve as good news for local ...

Source: Food Navigator Asia