New Zealand has reported a number of hepatitis A cases linked to consumption of frozen berries in the past couple of months. Hepatitis A and frozen berries – Ministry of Health. As a precaution, Foodstuffs Own Brands Ltd recalled various Pams brand frozen berries because of a possible link to thes...

The Food Safety Information Council (FSIC) recently released new advice on reusable food containers and food safety. FSIC note that it is important to consider appropriate use of reusable food containers as they become more accepted by food retailers. Current advice includes: ensuring suitable ...

New Zealand Food Safety (MPI) has clarified the registration requirements for warehousing businesses that only store wine. If a warehouse is storing finished wine, they do not need to be registered under the Wine Act 2003 or the Food Act 2014. Regulation 18 of the new Wine Regulations 2021, which ca...

The Allergen Bureau has recently released a new set of guidelines, and a Raw Material Risk Matrix Questionnaire, to assist the food industry to identify and manage agricultural cross contact risk. The guide and questionnaire can be reviewed and downloaded here....

On request from the Meat Industry Association, the New Zealand Food Safety Science & Research Centre commissioned ESR to provide in-depth commentary on a recent international study investigating the survival of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) on different meats and seafoods.  The study postulated tha...

There is still a need to improve communication and data sharing during global food safety emergencies, according to experts. Food Safety News recently reported on a health talk organized by the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) on World Food Safety Day, June 7. This included th...

FSANZ has released data on 2021 food recalls. A total of 80 recalls were conducted in the last calendar year, with almost half of these due to undeclared allergens. Other reasons for recalls included microbial contamination (19), foreign matter (5) and incorrect labelling (3). FSANZ collects and pu...

New Zealand Food Safety (MPI) have issued new guidelines on how to apply Plain English Allergen Labelling (PEAL) to food and beverage products. You can review and download the guidance here...

New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) has issued new guidance on food recalls: step-by-step food recall guidance for food businesses simulated recall guidance for food businesses This guidance is designed to help food businesses understand how to carry out a fast and effective food recall (or simulated foo...

Microbiological criteria that are applied to determine the safety of food are included in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (Standard 1.6.1 and Schedule 27).  Other microbiological criteria (process hygiene criteria) can be developed and applied at various stages throughout the food cha...