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Category: News

Wild mushroom advice

Thursday, 10 February 2022 by Rachelle Williams
The following is a new media release from the Food Safety Information Council and is included here with permission.

Wet weather brings warning not to pick wild mushrooms because of deathcap risk

As children start to go back to school, the Food Safety Information Council is asking parents to make sure their children know how to wash their hands correctly.

Wild mushrooms are springing up earlier around Australia after a wet Summer, so today the Food Safety Information Council warned people not to pick wild mushrooms because of the deadly deathcap mushroom poisoning risk.

Cathy Moir, Council Chair, said that foraging for wild food is becoming a popular activity but gathering wild mushrooms can be life-threatening.

‘The poison in one deathcap mushroom, if eaten, is enough to kill a healthy adult. In 2012 two people died after eating the deadly mushrooms at a New Year’s Eve dinner party in Canberra and in 2014 four people also in the ACT were seriously poisoned.

‘Deathcap mushrooms can appear any time of year but are usually more common during Autumn a week or two after good rains. However, during a wet summer like this one, fruiting has occurred much earlier with reports of them in the ACT and Adelaide Hills region since Christmas.

‘They have been found in the Canberra region, in and around Melbourne, in Tasmania and in the Adelaide region. They are not native to Australia and are found near oak, hazel or chestnut trees. The similar native marbled deathcap mushrooms have been found in WA in eucalypt forest,  although they may not be as toxic. While no cases have been reported in other States it is possible that they also grow there.

‘Deathcap mushrooms are difficult to distinguish from some other wild mushrooms so we recommend you play it safe and only eat mushrooms that you have purchased from a supermarket, greengrocer or other reputable source. People from overseas, especially in Asian countries, should be aware that these deadly mushrooms can look like edible mushrooms they may have gathered in their home countries.

“The toxin in deathcap mushrooms is not destroyed by peeling, cooking or drying. Symptoms of poisoning include vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach cramps and usually appear six  to 24 hours after eating. These symptoms may ease for 2 to 3 days before a terminal phase of 3 to 4 days begins. Without early, effective medical intervention people may go into a coma and die after 2 or 3 weeks of liver and kidney failure.

‘While rare, most of the deaths from mushroom poisoning in Australia result from deathcap mushrooms. However, there are other wild mushrooms in Australia that have caused fatalities or can make you seriously ill with abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhoea. These include various Cortinarius (webcap) and Galerina species, the ghost mushroom (commonly mistaken for oyster mushrooms), and the yellow stainer which resembles a field mushroom and is the most commonly ingested poisonous mushroom in Victoria and New South Wales.

‘The NSW Poisons Information Centre, which receives enquiries from NSW, the ACT and Tasmania as well as afterhours enquiries for all of Australia, received 549 calls during 2020 regarding exposures to mushrooms with another 133 recalls about these cases. 23% of calls were intentional recreational or foraging exposures in adults.

‘More than a third of these calls were accidental exposure in children under 5 years, so remember that small children have a natural inclination to put things in their mouths so keep an eye on them when outdoors. Parents, schools and childcare workers should regularly check outdoor areas and gardens for mushrooms and remove them to reduce the risk of accidental poisoning. This will also protect your pets.

‘If you suspect you may have eaten a deathcap mushroom don’t wait for symptoms to occur but go to a hospital emergency department taking the mushroom in a container (and washing hands after handling) with you if you can. You can also contact the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 (24 hours a day 7 days a week).

‘Finally, a reminder that if you grow your own mushrooms at home do not collect spore from the wild but use a reputable mushroom growing kit, follow the instructions and especially make sure the growing medium is sterilised. This will make sure you do not accidentally grow poisonous mushrooms.  Also, like all fresh produce make sure your home grown and shop bought mushrooms are handled hygienically with well washed hands and utensils to avoid the risk of food poisoning,’ Ms Moir concluded.

Further information:

If you have concerns about possible wild mushroom poisoning contact the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26

ACT Health: If you think you see any possible Deathcap mushrooms growing in Canberra do not touch but report them contact Access Canberra on 13 22 81 see more information

Queensland see more information

Better Health Channel (Victorian Government) see more information

Australian National Botanic Gardens see more information

WA Health:  see more information

Tasmania more information

SA more information 

Pets –  Australian Animals Poisons Centre (AAPC)    1300 TOX PET (AU)

Media contact:

Lydia Buchtmann, Food Safety Information Council, 0407 626 688 or info@foodsafety.asn.au

 

 

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New recall

Wednesday, 09 February 2022 by Rachelle Williams

The following is a recall notice from Food Standards Australia new Zealand and is included here with permission.

Bondi Protein – Vegan Protein Bar Peanut Butter 

Date published: 04 February 2022

Product information

Yours Truly Chocolates is conducting a recall of Bondi Protein Vegan Protein Bar Peanut Butter. The product has been available for sale at Chemist Warehouses n​ationally.

Date markings

Best Before: BB 161222A, BB 161222C, BB 161222E

Problem

The recall is due to the presence of an undeclared allergen (tree nut [cashew]).

Food safety hazard

Any consumers who have a (tree nut [cashew]) allergy or intolerance may have a reaction if the product is consumed.

Country of origin – Australia

What to do​

Consumers who have a (tree nut [cashew]) allergy or intolerance should not consume this product and should return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund.

For further information please contact:

Yours Truly Chocolates

0401969743

www.yourstrulychocolates.com.au

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Close contact rule changes should help ease some of the short staff situations due to people having COVID-19.

Tuesday, 01 February 2022 by Rachelle Williams

The following is an update for food businesses from Queensland Health about close contacts to those with COVID-19.

COVID-19 update – 24 January 2022

Close contacts returning to work

The Queensland Government has changed some requirements for businesses critical to the fresh food supply chain.

These measures will help close contact workers resume critical roles to support the fresh food supply chain, while ensuring safety in workplaces through additional COVID-19 monitoring.

Workers must provide a negative Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) prior to beginning their first day back at work and on every second day (as well as the day 6 test to end quarantine). RAT tests are to be provided by the employer. A list of suppliers has been provided on the eHub.

All critically essential workers must be symptom free, fully vaccinated and have had a booster dose, if eligible.

From today, the Critically Essential Roles List (a brief description of the roles, not a list of named individuals) must be submitted to the COVID-19 services portal rather than to an email address. You do not need to resubmit information through the portal, if you have recently submitted information through the email address.

Employers must also maintain a Critical Worker List of the names of close contacts performing essential roles.

Department of Agriculture and Fisheries

E info@daf.qld.gov.au W www.daf.qld.gov.au

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Report on the nutritional labelling of added sugars has been released.

Thursday, 27 January 2022 by Rachelle Williams

The following is a release from Food Standards Australia New Zealand about the release of the report of the recent added sugars nutritional labelling review. It is included here with permission from Food Standards Australia New Zealand.

Review of nutrition labelling for added sugars report released

We recently released the findings of our review of nutrition labelling for added sugars.

The review was undertaken at the request of food ministers with the aim of ensuring food labels provide adequate contextual information about sugars to enable consumers to make informed choices in support of dietary guidelines.

Ministers requested FSANZ review three policy options:

  1. quantifying added sugars in the nutrition information panel (NIP) (preferred by ministers)
  2. applying a pictorial about sugar to sugary beverages/sugar-sweetened beverages, and
  3. changing the statement of ingredients to identify sugars-based ingredients.

Our review concluded that although complex, there are no technical barriers to including added sugars in the NIP. FSANZ expects to begin work early this year on a proposal to consider amending the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Food Standards Code) with regard to added sugars information in the NIP.

The full report can be viewed at https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/consumer/labelling/Documents/Review%20of%20nutrition%20labelling%20for%20added%20sugars.pdf

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Correct handwashing is one of the main controls we have for both infections and contaminations.

Friday, 21 January 2022 by Rachelle Williams

The following is the latest media release from the Food Safety Information Council  about the importance of handwashing, and is included here with permission.

As children start to go back to school, the Food Safety Information Council is asking parents to make sure their children know how to wash their hands correctly.

Cathy Moir, Council Chair, said that an international survey published by the Global Hygiene Council (GHC) in 2020 found that 42%of children between the ages of 5 and 10 did not know how to properly wash their hands while at school. This survey assessed primary school students from across seven countries, including the UK, Indonesia, China, Australia, Saudi Arabia, India and South Africa.

‘Also, our own research in August 2021 found a 15% decrease in the number of times Australians over 18 washed or sanitised their hands a day, on average, since the same time the previous year so this is also a timely reminder for adults to remember to wash their hands frequently,’ Ms Moir said.

‘To reduce their risk of food poisoning (and COVID-19 infection) children should always wash their hands with soap and running water for 20 seconds and thoroughly dry them (or use hand sanitiser if hand washing facilities aren’t available) on these occasions:

  • before handling, preparing and eating food
  • after using the toilet
  • after blowing their nose
  • after touching a pet
  • after returning home.

‘To remind Australia of the importance of good hand hygiene, the Food Safety Information Council has made an education package available including videos and posters for both adults and children that give 4 simple tips for washing hands correctly. We also strongly encourage schools to take the Glitterbug challenge to see how well children wash their hands with a fun scientific experiment using a UV torch. The package can be downloaded from our website here and we encourage people to watch the video and to put up the posters at home, in their workplace, or at school,’ Ms Moir concluded.

This year we have partnered with our supporter Provisual to get handwashing and other food safety information into school canteens and tuckshops and we also encourage all schools to order Provisual’s free canteen posters from here.

In addition, here are 6 tips for parents about how to prepare a safe lunch for their children:

  1. When buying lunchboxes or insulated lunch bags, choose those that have room for a frozen water bottle or freezer block and are easy to clean and dry.
  2. Always wash and dry your hands thoroughly before preparing food, and wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly.
  3. Always use clean utensils and a clean chopping board when preparing school lunches.
  4. Make sure ready-to-eat lunchbox foods are always kept separated from raw foods in the refrigerator, particularly raw meats, chicken, eggs, and seafood.
  5. Keep the lunch cool in the fridge until you are ready to leave home, then put an ice brick or frozen drink in the lunchbox or cooler bag to keep it cold until lunchtime.
  6. During hot weather you may want to consider providing safer lunchbox alternatives that can be safely stored at room temperature, such as hard or processed cheese, vegetables or tuna in a can.
  7. Discard any higher risk foods such as sushi, salads, meat, cut fruits, poultry, rice or eggs if your child brings them home uneaten.

The Food Safety Information Council would like to thank their members OnSolution and Accord Australasia for their support for this campaign through charitable donations. We’d also like to thank the students and staff at St Aloysius College in Adelaide for their assistance in making the Glitterbug video.

Media contacts:
Lydia Buchtmann, Food Safety Information Council, 0407 626 688 or info@foodsafety.asn.au

Craig Brock, Accord, 0422 363 646

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Butter related recall

Thursday, 20 January 2022 by Rachelle Williams

Saputo Dairy Australia Pty Ltd Butter and Spreadable Butter Blend Products 

​Date published: 19 January 2022

Product information

Saputo Dairy Australia Pty Ltd is conducting a recall of various butter and spreadable butter blend products. The products have been available for sale nationally at various outlets including Woolworths, Coles, ALDI, independent supermarkets and Costco.

Problem –The recall is due to a potential microbial contamination.

Food safety hazard –Food products with a microbial contamination may cause illness if consumed.

Country of origin –Australia

What to do​

Consumers should not eat these products. Any consumers concerned about their health​ should seek medical advice. Consumers should return the products to the place of purchase for a full refund.

For further information please contact: Saputo Dairy Australia customer service team 1800 032 479

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Have you eaten insects?

Tuesday, 18 January 2022 by Rachelle Williams

So have you ever eaten insects? For much of the world eating insects is a regular part of diets. In the western diet, insects are not common, but are starting to appear.

In the USA recently there was a rush to add insects to a lot of ready to eat foods like pizza and tacos. This was done as part of a way by clever businesses to use the many cicadas during their periodic 17 year emergence.

There are increasing restaurants in Australia now adding insects to their menus.

This is great because insects use significantly less resources to produce more protein weight for weight than all meat producing animals. So they are a very sustainale method of delivering the protein we all need in our diets.

There are only two problems at the end of the day in insects being a regular part of our diets.

The first is getting the western public to be comfortable with eating ants, grasshoppers, cicadas, termites, spiders, cockroaches and other “creepy crawlies”.

The first set in developing this comfort is to use flour made from insects in current products, so the protein is going into the foods but people do not see the legs  and other bits to make them aware that they are in fact eating insects. This is already happening in the food industry.

The second difficulty is that there is a high likelihood that there will be people who will have an allergy to eating insects. Study is being done to determine if there those who are allergic to crustaceans are also allergic to insects, as both are related to the protein in the exoskeleton.

Labelling is already appearing on products about this link.Studies are continuing to determine if there is a link.

More information can be found at;

https://issuu.com/foodaust/docs/food_australia_jan-mar_2022_digital_single_final?fr=sMDU0NzQ1NjgwODU

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New Recall

Friday, 14 January 2022 by Rachelle Williams

The following is a new recall notice from Food Standards Australia New Zealand and is included here with permission.

Fresh Food Enterprises IQ Bars 

​Date published: 14 January 2022

Product information

Fresh Food Enterprises is conducting a recall of IQ Bar Chocolate Sea Salt 45g, IQ Bar Peanut Butter Chip 45g and IQ Bar Almond Butter Chip 45g. The product has been available for sale at independent stores and IGA supermarkets in NSW, ACT, VIC and TAS.

Date markings

  • Q Bar Chocolate Sea Salt 45g BB June 10 2022
  • IQ Bar Peanut Butter Chip 45g BB June 11 2022
  • IQ Bar Almond Butter Chip 45g BB Apr 14 2022

Problem – The recall is due to the presence of an undeclared allergen (milk).

Food safety hazard

Any consumers who have a milk allergy or intolerance may have a reaction if these products are consumed.

Country of origin – USA

What to do​

Consumers who have a milk allergy or intolerance should not consume these products and should return the products to the place of purchase for a full refund.

 

For further information please contact:

Fresh Food Enterprises – Free call 1800 731 845  https://freshfood.net.au​

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Changes to Queensland COVID-19 Close Contact rules impacts food industry

Tuesday, 11 January 2022 by Rachelle Williams

With supermarket shelves empty due to food industry staff being required to stay home because they are close contacts of someone who has CVOVID-19, the governments across the country have realised that there need to be changes to the rules around close contacts.

In Queensland now, those who are double vaccinated and a close contact of someone with COVID-19 are able to go to work if they are considered as a essential worker and are asymptomatic. They will need to wear full PPE and only travel to and from work in their private vehicle. They can only go to work and straight back home. They must also  have  a Rapid Assay Test done on Day 6 to confirm that they remain asymptomatic. Any sign of symptoms at all and they must not come to work.

This will hopefully mean that our supermarket shelves are restocked and that the raw materials needed for manufacturing are received by our factories.

With all the rules we now have to follow to protect us and the community from COVID-19, and with those rules and requirements changing frequently, is very easy to lose track with what we are supposed to do and when.

Always go to the recognised places for information to ensure that it is the most up to date and correct, the Queensland Health website https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19 is the place for information in this state. Be aware that things can change  rapidly which can have big impacts, so checking this site regularly each day is a good idea.

Each food business should have a dedicated person who is responsible for checking this site each day and reporting whatever changes have happened. It is also essential that each business has a clear and direct way of communicating changes to all staff and that there are records of this communication.

 

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Another Recall

Friday, 07 January 2022 by Rachelle Williams

The following is a recall notice from Food Standards Australia New Zealand and is included here with permission.

Nerada Detox Tea with added Probiotics 

​​​Date published: 31 December 2021

Product information

Nerada Tea Pty Ltd is conducting a recall of Detox Tea with added Probiotics (20 Tea Bags) 30g. The product has been available for sale online and at independent grocery stores including IGA nationally.

Date markings – Best before: 04/11/22, 29/03/23, 01/06/23

Problem – The recall is due to microbial contamination (Salmonella).

Food safety hazard – Food products contaminated with Salmonella may cause illness if consumed.

Country of origin – Australia

What to do​

Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice and should return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund.

For further information please contact:

Nerada Tea Pty Ltd +61 7 3272 0444 www.neradatea.com.au

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