June - July 2012

Will dark chocolate force food-labelling laws to change? FREE Show More Info
In this article, the author discovers that scientific recommendations to encourage dark chocolate consumption as a medication conflict with scientific and regulatory imperatives that discourage consumption of foods with high saturated fat content. The article confirms that stearic acid, which is a saturated fat, may be converted by the human liver into a good monosaturated fat. This raises other interesting questions that are posed to some of Australia’s top nutritional scientists. (ED)

Will the Health Claims regime discourage claims for whole fruit and vegetables in favour of artificial supplements? Show More Info
Many doctors recommend cranberries to their elderly patients to help resist urinary tract infections. Likewise, other berries are said to have beneficial health effects. A scientific study in May 2012 showed the positive effect of goji berries on the prevention of diabetic blindness. Indeed, many fresh fruit and vegetables have long been regarded by people as healthy foods and some are used frequently as home remedies. However nowadays they must compete against many processed foods and dietary supplements that can more readily convey a ‘healthy food’ message that has been approved by governments. Are fruit and vegetables being given the raw deal by government? This article explains these issues.

Chemical Residues and Processing Aids in Fruits & Vegetables Show More Info
Most fruits and vegetables are treated with chemicals during their growth and after they are harvested. This article examines legal aspects of the use of agricultural chemicals and processing aids in the chemical treatment of fruits and vegetables, and the potential for areas of overlap, as well as how chemical residues in fruits and vegetables are tested and monitored in Australia.

What can you say about energy drinks? A case study on product classification and health claims Show More Info
Australia’s regulation of making health and nutrition claims on behalf of food products is both strict and strictly enforced. The food industry has developed a number of methodologies to circumnavigate these regulations. This article uses the increasingly popular energy drink product as an example to see what commonly made health and nutrition claims can and cannot be made.

Watch out importers: Why AQIS has no soft touch Show More Info
The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service is required to ensure that imported foods comply with the Australian New Zealand Food Standards Code. However, the very narrow and limited options available to AQIS can often result in imported food products facing much more severe repercussions than their domestically-produced counterparts. This article examines the weaknesses in the current system and the decision-making process in accepting or rejecting an imported food.

Food Safety on airlines: Complications of cross-jurisdictional legal issues Show More Info
Recently there was a news story about a passenger claiming against an Australian airline serving food that was allegedly contaminated. The case highlights a few interesting legal issues. This article examines the question of cross-jurisdictional laws and in particular how the same facts can be subject to separate types of legal proceedings that might need to be dealt with in more than one jurisdiction.