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Labelling for religious, environmental, animal welfare and other consumer value issues

Labelling for religious, environmental, animal welfare and other consumer value issues Some food labels include information that relates to people's personal values/ethics, such as:

  • religious reasons (e.g. 'halal', 'kosher')
  • environmental concerns (e.g. carbon footprint labelling, palm oil labelling in relation to rainforest destruction)
  • animal welfare concerns (e.g. 'RSPCA approved', 'dolphin friendly')
  • human rights issues (e.g. fair trade, child labour).
The Food Standards Code does not include requirements for this kind of labelling. This is because the standards in the Code are mainly aimed at protecting public health and safety (for example, a standard that requires mandatory declarations for food allergens).   Food suppliers…

Published 6 April 2017

Labelling of alcoholic beverages

Labelling of alcoholic beverages The Food Standards Code includes specific information requirements for labelling of alcoholic beverages. These may vary depending on the concentration of alcohol in the beverage. This is measured in alcohol by volume (ABV). Statement of alcohol content All beverages containing 0.5% or more ABV must include information on the label about the alcohol content (Standard 2.7.1). For alcoholic beverages containing more than 1.15% ABV, the label must include the alcohol content as a percentage of ABV or mL/100 ml.

  • For example, the label might read that the beverage contains 5% ABV or the alcohol content is 5ml/100ml of the beverage.
For alcoholic beverages containing 1.15% ABV or less, the alcohol content must be written in words to the…

Published 9 August 2022

Food additive labelling

Food additive labelling Food additives in most packaged food must be listed in the statement of ingredients on the label. Most food additives must be listed by their class name followed by the name of the food additive or the food additive number, for example, Colour (Caramel I) or Colour (150a). Enzymes and most flavourings (or flavour) do not need to be named or identified by a food additive number and can be labelled by their class name only. The class name indicates what the food additive does (i.e. its purpose). Read a list of the most common class names of food additives. Food additive numbers (based on an internationally-accepted numbering system) can be used as an alternative to names which can be long and confusing. The lists below…

Published 1 December 2021

Sugar labelling

Sugar labelling The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code) includes requirements for food labels to include the total amount of sugars in the nutrition information panel (NIP). Total sugars includes sugar that is naturally present in the food and sugar that has been added as an ingredient. The code contains requirements for foods that make claims about sugar. For example, foods that claim to be 'low sugar' cannot contain more than 2.5 g of sugar per 100 mL of liquid food or 5g per 100g of solid food. There are also requirements for claims such as 'reduced sugar', 'x% sugar free', 'no added sugar' and 'unsweetened'. More information

Nutrition information panels

Nutrition information panels Nutrition information panels (NIP) on food labels provide information on the average quantity of energy in kilojoules or in kilojoules and kilocalories and these nutrients:

  • protein
  • fat
  • saturated fat
  • carbohydrate
  • sugars
  • sodium - a component of salt.
A NIP will include information about other nutrients if a claim is made. For example, if a food has a 'good source of fibre' claim then the amount of dietary fibre in the food must be shown in the NIP. The NIP must be presented in a standard format which shows the average quantity per serving and per 100 g, or 100 mL if a liquid. There are a few foods that don't require a NIP, for example:
  • foods sold unpackaged
  • foods made and packaged at the point of sale…

    Published 6 October 2020

Labelling review

Labelling review In 2009, Australian and New Zealand food regulation ministers agreed to a comprehensive independent review of food labelling law and policy. An expert panel, chaired by Dr Neal Blewett, AC, undertook the review and the panel's final report, Labelling Logic, was publicly released on 28 January 2011. In December 2011, the Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation (the Forum) agreed on a response to the recommendations contained in the review. As part of this government response, FSANZ was asked to do work on a number of the recommendations. Our work on these recommendations is now complete. Completed work Number Recommendation FSANZ's work 6 That the food safety…

Published 28 August 2019

Labelling review recommendation 12

Labelling review recommendation 12 (May 2017)   Recommendation 12 of an independent review of food labelling stated that where sugars, fats or vegetable oils are added as separate ingredients in a food, the terms 'added sugars' and 'added fats' and/or 'added vegetable oils' be used in the ingredient list as the generic term, followed by a bracketed list (e.g., added sugars (fructose, glucose syrup, honey), added fats (palm oil, milk fat) or added vegetable oils (sunflower oil, palm oil). Ministers responsible for food regulation asked FSANZ to undertake a technical evaluation and provide advice on the…

Published 27 September 2018

Labelling review recommendation 17

Labelling review recommendation 17   (May 2017)  One of the recommendations of an independent review of food labelling was that the declaration in the nutrition information panel (NIP) of the amount of nutrients per serving be no longer mandatory unless a daily intake claim is made.   Manufacturers currently provide nutrient information in the NIP in both 'per serving' amounts and per 100 grams or 100 mls. The recommendation proposed that manufacturers only be required to provide the amounts per 100 grams or 100 mls. Manufacturers would be permitted to provide 'per serving' information voluntarily.  Ministers responsible for food regulation asked FSANZ to assess and provide advice on the recommendation. In their response to the recommendation…

Published 27 September 2018

Labelling review recommendation 26

Labelling review recommendation 26   (June 2017)   In 2011, an independent review of food labelling recommended that energy content be displayed on the labels of all alcoholic beverages, consistent with the requirements for other food products (recommendation 26). The recommendation was based on the premise that providing energy information would help people wanting to manage their energy intake.   In response, ministers responsible for food regulation agreed 'in principle' with the recommendation. Before considering the issue further, ministers asked FSANZ to undertake research,…

Published 27 September 2018

Bisphenol A (BPA)

Bisphenol A (BPA) Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical used in the lining of some food and beverage packaging to protect food from contamination and extend shelf life. It’s also used in non-food products. Small amounts of BPA can migrate into food and beverages from containers. For a number of years concerns have been raised that BPA exposure may cause health problems. However, when food safety authorities around the world have reviewed BPA they have generally concluded there are no safety concerns at the levels people are exposed to. In April 2023, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published a re-evaluation of the risks to public health from the presence of BPA in food. EFSA concluded the tolerable daily intake (or TDI) for BPA should be substantially reduced from the temporary value it had previously…

Published 26 November 2018