Latest news with #FSANZ
West Australian
28-05-2025
- Health
- West Australian
Harvest Road's Leeuwin Coast issues recall for Albany Rock Oysters after E. coli was found in May 20 batch
Albany's largest aquaculture business has been forced to recall some of its produce after E. coli was found in last week's batch of rock oysters. Leeuwin Coast, run by Harvest Road, issued a recall on Friday for its bistro and bottle Albany rock oysters harvested on May 20. A Harvest Road spokesperson said only a small portion of last week's harvest was contaminated by the bacteria. 'Only 8 per cent of last week's oyster harvest was affected and Harvest Road has been working closely with the affected wholesalers, who have informed us that most oysters did not make it to market,' they said. 'We received the test results on Thursday evening and we acted immediately. 'The three affected wholesalers who had received stock were informed that night (and) an official FSANZ product recall was issued on Friday morning as per our legal obligations.' E. coli is a type of bacteria that lives in the gut of humans and animals. Symptoms include diarrhoea, stomach cramps, nausea and fever. No sickness was reported and further testing revealed no other issues in subsequent batches. The spokesperson said this was the first time Harvest Road had received a non-compliant test result, citing the company's 'well-defined quality assurance process'. 'It is fairly common across the oyster industry that some shellfish is recalled, but due to the quality of water in Albany and our routine testing regime it is not common for Harvest Road,' they said. 'Harvest Road is committed to providing the freshest, highest-quality oysters and will always act immediately if there is any risk.' The affected wholesalers received a credit and new oysters that have passed testing.
Perth Now
22-05-2025
- Health
- Perth Now
Parents warned: Basic error sparks recall of baby product
An urgent recall has been issued for a plant based infant formula sold across Australia. Marketed as a 'trusted plant-based choice for growing babies', Coco2 claims to be the world's first coconut-powder–based formula for babies and infants. Food Standards Australia and New Zealand has urged anyone who bought Stage 1 Coco2 Infant Formula 800g, Stage 2 Coco2 Follow-on Formula 800g, or Stage 3 Coco2 Toddler Drink 800g with an expiry date of 01/2027 to return it to the place of purchase for a refund. It blames incorrect feeding instructions contained in labelling errors, including incorrect scoop size, for the recall. Stage 1 Coco2 Infant Formula 800g, Stage 2 Coco2 Follow-on Formula 800g, or Stage 3 Coco2 Toddler Drink 800g have all been recalled. Credit: FSANZ The products have been available for sale in Go-Vita and Priority Health in NSW, QLD, VIC and SA and Priceline in QLD, and online nationally. 'Consumers should return the products to the place of purchase for a full refund. Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice,' a FZANZ statement about the recall reads. For more information, consumers are advised to contact SSM International Pty Ltd on (07) 3299 2477, hello@ or
West Australian
24-04-2025
- Health
- West Australian
‘Toxic soup': Food dyes set for US phase out under Robert F. Kennedy Jr. health push still on Aussie shelves
All six artificial food colours set to be phased out under a Trump administration crackdown sparked by concern about their potential impact on health are freely available in foods sold in Australia. Announced this week, the move away from artificial to natural colouring alternatives is expected to affect a wide range of US products that includes the famously bright, rainbow coloured Skittles. 'For the last 50 years, American children have increasingly been living in a toxic soup of synthetic chemicals,' FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said at a press conference discussing the move. He said the FDA would work with industry to eliminate food dyes Green No. 3 (known in Australia as Fast Green FCF), Red No. 40 (Allura Red AC) , Yellow No. 5 (Tartrazine), Yellow No. 6 (Sunset yellow FCF), Blue No. 1 Brilliant Blue FCF), and Blue No. 2 (Indigotine) by the end of next year. The FDA will also revoke authorisation within months for synthetic colourings Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B — which are already banned in Australia — and speed up the planned removal of Red Dye 3, which is permitted only in limited foods in Australia, including preserved cherries and icing/frosting, sooner than already planned. It's expected the US changes will require a potentially costly overhaul of recipes and their new look may affect their attractiveness to consumers. A spokesperson for FSANZ said it was aware of the FDA announcement, but said that the six new dyes targeted by the FDA were not harmful in the quantities allowed in the Australian food supply. 'The six colours in the FDA statement are all permitted under Schedule 16 of the Code under defined conditions of use in specific foods,' the spokesperson said. 'FSANZ surveys show that dietary exposure to food colours remains far below the acceptable daily intake, with levels under 5 per cent even including for children. These findings confirm there is no public health concern related to the use of approved food colours.' In Australia, food dyes are required to undergo a safety assessment by FSANZ before being added to food and drinks sold. A safety limit is set to ensure no-one will be able to eat the additive to an unsafe level. Backlash against artificial colours has been brewing in the US for more than a decade but the industry argues that claims the dyes were dangerous lack evidence. Last month, newly appointed Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told top food executives that removing artificial dyes from the food system was an urgent priority of the Trump administration. He has previously used Kellogg's Froot Loops as his primary example when railing against artificial colourants. Under his so-called Make America Healthy Again platform he has argued a corrupt alliance of drug and food companies and the federal health agencies that regulate them are making Americans less healthy. He has pledged to end the chronic disease epidemic in children and adults, and has been vocal about making nutritious food, rather than drugs, central to that goal. Rather than an outright ban, Mr Makary said the FDA would work with industry to do it voluntarily. Mr Makary said the agency plans to authorise four additional colour additives using natural ingredients in the coming weeks, while also expediting the review and approval of other natural ingredient colours. He cited a Lancet study that concluded that artificial colours in the diet 'result in increased hyperactivity'. 'The F in FDA stands for food,' he said. 'Now, there's no one ingredient that accounts for the child chronic disease epidemic. And let's be honest, taking petroleum-based food dyes out of the food supply is not a silver bullet that will instantly make America's children healthy, but it is one important step.' — with CNBC
Perth Now
24-04-2025
- Health
- Perth Now
Food dyes targeted in US crackdown still on Aussie shelves
All six artificial food colours set to be phased out under a Trump administration crackdown sparked by concern about their potential impact on health are freely available in foods sold in Australia. Announced this week, the move away from artificial to natural colouring alternatives is expected to affect a wide range of US products that includes the famously bright, rainbow coloured Skittles. 'For the last 50 years, American children have increasingly been living in a toxic soup of synthetic chemicals,' FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said at a press conference discussing the move. He said the FDA would work with industry to eliminate food dyes Green No. 3 (known in Australia as Fast Green FCF), Red No. 40 (Allura Red AC) , Yellow No. 5 (Tartrazine), Yellow No. 6 (Sunset yellow FCF), Blue No. 1 Brilliant Blue FCF), and Blue No. 2 (Indigotine) by the end of next year. The FDA will also revoke authorisation within months for synthetic colourings Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B — which are already banned in Australia — and speed up the planned removal of Red Dye 3, which is permitted only in limited foods in Australia, including preserved cherries and icing/frosting, sooner than already planned. It's expected the US changes will require a potentially costly overhaul of recipes and their new look may affect their attractiveness to consumers. It's expected the US changes will require a potentially costly overhaul of recipes. Credit: beats_ - A spokesperson for FSANZ said it was aware of the FDA announcement, but said that the six new dyes targeted by the FDA were not harmful in the quantities allowed in the Australian food supply. 'The six colours in the FDA statement are all permitted under Schedule 16 of the Code under defined conditions of use in specific foods,' the spokesperson said. 'FSANZ surveys show that dietary exposure to food colours remains far below the acceptable daily intake, with levels under 5 per cent even including for children. These findings confirm there is no public health concern related to the use of approved food colours.' In Australia, food dyes are required to undergo a safety assessment by FSANZ before being added to food and drinks sold. A safety limit is set to ensure no-one will be able to eat the additive to an unsafe level. Backlash against artificial colours has been brewing in the US for more than a decade but the industry argues that claims the dyes were dangerous lack evidence. Last month, newly appointed Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told top food executives that removing artificial dyes from the food system was an urgent priority of the Trump administration. He has previously used Kellogg's Froot Loops as his primary example when railing against artificial colourants. Under his so-called Make America Healthy Again platform he has argued a corrupt alliance of drug and food companies and the federal health agencies that regulate them are making Americans less healthy. He has pledged to end the chronic disease epidemic in children and adults, and has been vocal about making nutritious food, rather than drugs, central to that goal. Rather than an outright ban, Mr Makary said the FDA would work with industry to do it voluntarily. Mr Makary said the agency plans to authorise four additional colour additives using natural ingredients in the coming weeks, while also expediting the review and approval of other natural ingredient colours. He cited a Lancet study that concluded that artificial colours in the diet 'result in increased hyperactivity'. 'The F in FDA stands for food,' he said. 'Now, there's no one ingredient that accounts for the child chronic disease epidemic. And let's be honest, taking petroleum-based food dyes out of the food supply is not a silver bullet that will instantly make America's children healthy, but it is one important step.' — with CNBC
CNN
11-04-2025
- Health
- CNN
Woman gives birth to another couple's child after IVF mix-up
A major Australian IVF clinic has apologized for giving the wrong embryo to a woman who then gave birth to another couple's baby, blaming the mix-up on 'human error.' Monash IVF, which operates more than 100 clinics across Australia, said in a statement staff were 'devastated' by the mistake, believed to be the first of its kind in Australia. It's not clear whether either of the couples suspected a mix-up before the clinic discovered the error in February. 'On behalf of Monash IVF, I want to say how truly sorry I am for what has happened,' said CEO Michael Knaap in the statement. 'We will continue to support the patients through this extremely distressing time,' he added. Monash IVF has not named the couples involved, nor has it responded to questions about when the baby was born, or who has custody of the child. The error occurred at Monash IVF's Brisbane clinic, in the state of Queensland, where the law recognizes the birth mother and her partner as the child's legal parents. How did it happen? The mistake was discovered in February after the birth parents requested to transfer their remaining embryos to another IVF provider. After an extra embryo was found in their storage compartment, an internal inquiry discovered they'd received the wrong embryo. It's not clear how the error was made but according to the Monash IVF statement, another patient's embryo was 'incorrectly thawed and transferred to the birth parents.' Knaap, the company's CEO, said he was confident it was 'an isolated incident.' 'We are reinforcing all our safeguards across our clinics – we also commissioned an independent investigation and are committed to implementing its recommendations in full,' he added. The Fertility Society of Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) said in a statement that it was 'aware of the serious incident' and its immediate thoughts were with the families affected. It said such incidents are rare and require 'the highest standards of transparency.' Similar errors have been made in the United States, including a recent case where a White woman discovered she'd been given the wrong embryo after giving birth to a Black infant. This is not the first time Monash IVF has been accused of wrongdoing. Last year, the company agreed to pay 56 million Australian dollars ($35 million) to settle a class action suit brought by 700 former patients. The patients alleged the company didn't disclose the risk of false positives in genetic testing on embryos, which led them to discard potentially viable embryos.
