An updated version of the IFS Guidelines for effective Foreign Body Management was issued in 2025, and provides a risk based approach to identifying and controlling foreign matter hazards in food premises. Review and download the guidelines here....

New Zealand Food Safety issued their annual Food Recall Summary Report for 2025 this week, which confirmed 57 consumer-level food recalls. Of the 57 recalls, 37 were initiated for domestically produced foods and 20 were for imported foods. Allergens in food were the leading cause for recalls in 2025...

Update: New caffeine rules approved (FSANZ proposal P1056) On 10 March 2026, the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) Board approved changes to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code) introducing new rules for caffeine and guarana extract. Businesses will have two years from...

New Zealand Food Safety has issued the new Food Notice: Requirements for Registered Importers and Imported Food for Sale 2026.   Food Notice: Requirements for Registered Food Importers and Imported Food for Sale 2026 (issued 1 May 2026 and effective from 1 February 2027) [PDF, 849 KB] This Noti...

New Zealand Food Safety (MPI) have recently published the Food packaging rules and guidance webpage. This provides information about food packaging-related requirements, including guidance on choosing packaging that keeps food safe and suitable, aspects to consider if businesses want to research sub...

The UK IFST offers free webinars on a range of food industry topics, from food safety, food innovation, sensory science, food processing, food science and nutrition. These can be viewed here...

The record blanks (‘templates’ ‘forms’) have recently been refreshed. Note that recording requirements have not changed. The refresh is about making the record blanks easier to use. New Zealand Food Safety (MPI) have also created ‘Record Keeping Guidance’ which includes a record requirem...

On 13 August 2025, changes to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code) were gazetted to mandate energy labelling on packaged alcoholic beverages. From the date of gazettal, businesses have 3 years to comply with the new requirements. Food regulation system guidance is available fo...

New Zealand Food Safety has updated the My Food Plan (MFP) content to reflect changes to requirements since it was first released in 2019 and to generally improve its usability. It contains updated rules around suitable water, plain English allergen labelling, and mock recalls that businesses must f...

Australia’s National Allergen Council’s website Food Allergy Aware is a resource hub with information and practical resources (including short training videos) that are applicable in both Australia and New Zealand. The Food Allergen Portal is also the work of the Allergen Collaboration, and prov...