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Animal diseases, human health and food safety

Animal diseases, human health and food safety Australia is free of the below listed diseases and has strict biosecurity measures in place to keep it free of these and other animal diseases. Further information on animal diseases is available on the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) website: …

Published 13 July 2023

Apricot kernels (raw)

Apricot kernels (raw) The sale of raw apricot kernels is prohibited under the Food Standards Code. This is because they contain cyanogenic glycosides that can convert to a type of cyanide when eaten. There have been reports of cyanide poisoning from eating raw apricot kernels in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United Kingdom and Europe. In 2011 a person in Queensland was hospitalised after eating raw apricot kernels with high levels of cyanide. At the time, FSANZ warned consumers not to consume raw apricot kernels. Another consumer was hospitalised after eating raw apricot kernels in Western Australia in 2014. FSANZ conducted a risk assessment on a number of foods containing cyanogenic glycosides and found only raw apricot kernels (both with and without skin) pose…

Published 13 July 2023

Floods and food safety

Floods and food safety Floodwater can be contaminated with harmful microorganisms and poisons from sewage, animals, agricultural and industrial waste, and other substances that can cause illness. Any food, packaging, surfaces and cooking utensils that have come into contact with floodwater might be contaminated and unsafe. Water supplies might also be unsafe. There could also be a power outage with a flood, which could affect food refrigeration and cooking. Here are some tips to help you make sure your food will be safe to eat if there is a flood. Preparing at home If you know a flood could be coming and you are in an area that could be affected:

• Move food supplies and equipment to another area, away from the predicted flooding. 
• Store food on…

  Published 13 July 2023

Frozen berries and hepatitis A

Frozen berries and hepatitis A (17 February 2015)   What products are affected? The following products have been recalled:

•  Nanna's Mixed Berries (frozen), 1kg plastic bags, from Coles, Woolworths, IGA and other independent supermarkets with all best before dates of up to and including 22/11/16
• as a precautionary measure, Nanna's Raspberries (frozen), 1kg plastic bags, with best before dates up to and including 15/09/2016
• as a precautionary measure, Creative Gourmet Mixed Berries (frozen), 300g and 500g plastic bags and cardboard boxes, from Coles, Woolworths and IGA stores nationally with best before dates of up to and including 22/11/16.

Published 13 July 2023

Imported ready-to-eat berries

Imported ready-to-eat berries In response to several recalls of imported frozen ready-to-eat (RTE) berries linked to hepatitis A in 2015 and 2017, Australia introduced requirements for frozen berries being imported from all countries. FSANZ has provided information to the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment about berries and hepatitis A - read the imported food risk statement (pdf 266 kb). FSANZ and the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries also developed guidance for industry on inactivation of hepatitis A virus in berry fruits.…

Published 4 March 2022

Raw drinking milk

Raw drinking milk The pasteurisation of milk has been around since early 1900s and became standard practice in Australia in the mid-1950s. Pasteurisation is a process that heats milk to a specific temperature for a set period of time, killing bacteria responsible for diseases. It is a valuable public health tool. During a proposal that looked at allowing the production of a greater range of raw milk cheeses, FSANZ assessed the risks associated with raw drinking milk. 

• Read our risk assessment

Published 13 July 2023

Recall of frozen mixed berries

Recall of frozen mixed berries Frequently asked questions When and where were the berries available for sale? This batch of frozen mixed berries was distributed nationally in October 2016. The product was sold in independent stores such as Foodland & IGA stores. Around 48,000 units were distributed with most sold by March 2017. When did you first become aware of the hepatitis A cases? The first illness associated with these berries was identified in South Australia on 4 May 2017. Food regulation and public health authorities have been investigating since this time to try and establish a definitive link between the cases and the product. How can you be sure frozen berries are the cause? While the evidence to date is limited it does suggest a possible link to the product. Are these…

Published 5 March 2018

Australia's safe food system

Australia's safe food system Content Editor

Published 4 November 2013

Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) linked to eggs

Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) linked to eggs (June 2019) State and territory food regulators, health authorities and agriculture departments in Australia are investigating a rare strain of Salmonella (Salmonella Enteritidis) associated with human illness and egg consumption. Public health officials investigate Salmonella outbreaks using a nationally standardised questionnaire, and coordinate epidemiological investigation through OzFoodNet. DNA Genetic fingerprinting is performed on Salmonella bacteria isolated from ill people by using whole genome sequencing (WGS), which gives a more detailed DNA fingerprint picture than any other typing method. WGS performed on bacteria isolated from ill people showed that they were closely related genetically. This…

Published 13 July 2023

Poultry liver dishes

Poultry liver dishes Poultry liver dishes are generally safe as long as they are prepared correctly. Foodborne illness outbreaks in Australia and overseas have been linked to poultry liver dishes such as paté or parfait where the liver was undercooked. Just like any other poultry (e.g. chicken, turkey or duck) meat, livers need to be cooked all the way through to kill harmful microorganisms (particularly Campylobacter) that may be present. Lightly searing the surface is not enough. In surveys of raw chicken meat in Australia, Campylobacter was found in 84 per cent of samples tested.…

Published 8 March 2017