Foodwise Autumn

Autumn 2025 | Issue 71

Foodwise - Autumn edition

Welcome to the quarterly newsletter from the NSW Food Authority, with the latest information for the NSW food industry.

Highlights in this edition include:

Updated guideline for Listeria detection and response
Join us at the Sydney Royal Easter Show
Online food handler training now available in 6 languages
FRP Workshop 2025 – only 5 weeks to go!
New online form to notify an egg stamping notification
Labelling requirements for oat gluten

Is there something you’d like to see in Foodwise? Let us know at food.contact@dpird .nsw .gov.au or phone 1300 552 406. 

Update: public consultation on draft Food Regulation 2025

Thank you to everyone who made a submission during the consultation period.

Public consultation on the draft Food Regulation 2025 and Regulatory Impact Statement closed in December and we are currently considering all feedback.

The current Food Regulation 2015 is due for repeal on 1 September 2025, which means Food Regulation 2025 will commence on or before that date. We will notify key stakeholders and through our website when Food Regulation 2025 becomes law.

Updated guideline for Listeria detection and response

The NSW Food Authority recently updated information to clarify the steps a business needs to take if Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) is confirmed to be detected in a product.

Electron micrograph of a Listeria monocytogenes bacterium in tissue. *(Source: Dr. Balasubr Swaminathan; Peggy Hayes; CDC - Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases: Listeriosis, 2002)*

Electron micrograph of a Listeria monocytogenes bacterium in tissue. *(Source: Dr. Balasubr Swaminathan; Peggy Hayes; CDC - Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases: Listeriosis, 2002)*

It is a legal requirement for licensed businesses to notify the NSW Food Authority about a confirmed positive pathogen detection.

The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code sets microbiological limits for L. monocytogenes under Standard 1.6.1, ‘Microbiological Limits in Foods,’ to ensure food safety, especially for ready-to-eat (RTE) products.

The Food Authority enforces these limits based on whether a business can demonstrate that the RTE product will not support the growth of L. monocytogenes.

How these limits are applied is outlined in the guideline.

The guideline is essential for ensuring food safety, especially for RTE products, which can be particularly vulnerable to contamination.

View A Listeria monocytogenes positive test result (PDF, 455KB).

Cheese Champions crowned

The state’s best cheeses were put to the taste test at the recent 2025 Sydney Royal Cheese and Dairy Produce Show.

Congratulations to the winner of each of the NSW Food Authority perpetual trophies:

Champion Specialty Cheese: Berrys Creek Gourmet Cheese, Oak Blue

Champion Cheddar Cheese: Bega Cheese, Bega Rindless - Vintage

We’re proud to sponsor the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW event, which is one of the most prestigious competitions in the industry.

This year’s show attracted more than 520 entries, with 91 per cent of exhibits earning a gold, silver or bronze medal – its highest medal tally to date!

See the full results at rasnsw.com.au/cheesedairy

Acting CEO NSW Food Authority, Andrew Davies, presents the award to Barry Charlton and Cheryl Hull of Berry Creek Gourmet Cheese.

Join us at the Sydney Royal Easter Show – test your hand hygiene skills!

The Sydney Royal Easter Show is nearly here, and the NSW Food Authority is excited to be part of the action once again!

Opening Friday 11 April, and running until Tuesday 22 April, this year’s Show is set to be bigger and better than ever.

Good hand hygiene is key to food safety. In fact, it’s one of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent foodborne illness. Which is why we’ve decided to roll out our highly successful and engaging hand washing stand for one final year.

This interactive activity is designed to teach both kids and adults the proper hand-washing techniques in a fun and engaging way. Using ‘glow in the dark’ lotion and UV lights, visitors will follow the five key steps of hand washing to test how effectively they wash your hands before handling food.

Are you up for the challenge?

Our expert staff will be on hand throughout the Show to guide you through the steps, answer questions and share valuable food safety tips with all aspiring hygiene heroes.

This year, we’ve moved to a new location – we’re in the Ag Discovery pavilion on Orana Parade - next door to the cattle lawns and still along the Animal Walk footprint trail!

We can’t wait to see you there and help you become a hand hygiene expert!

Using ‘glow in the dark’ lotion and UV lights

Retail

Food Handler Basics training available in 6 languages

Our Food Handler Basics training is now available in English, Arabic, Simple and Traditional Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese.

The free, non-accredited, online training course was launched in 2023 to help retail businesses meet new requirements under Standard 3.2.2A of the Food Standards Code.

It has proved incredibly popular, with almost 260,000 certificates issued.

Food Handler Basics is under ‘Training’ on the Food Authority website.

Food Handler Basics training: Arabic

Food Handler Basics training: Vietnamese

Spotlight on dark kitchens

We’re shining a light on ‘dark’ or ‘low visibility’ kitchens - delivery-only food businesses that rely on social media and apps for trade.  

These types of businesses don’t always notify their local authority, and without a public premises, can be difficult to reach.

Under national food safety laws, no matter how big or small a food business is, or if it’s home-based, online, or temporary; if a business sells food, they must notify the appropriate enforcement agency. Read more.

FRP Workshop 2025 – only 5 weeks to go!

The biennial Food Regulation Partnership (FRP) Workshop 2025 is fast approaching, taking place in Sydney on 7-9 April at the Amora Hotel Jamison - don't miss out!

Themed ‘Outside the square – plating up new perspectives’, the Workshop will feature interactive sessions on improving food labelling knowledge, building enforcement skills, and managing high risk food safety issues, plus much more.

This event is a must-attend for authorised officers from enforcement agencies, providing a valuable development opportunity to advance the environmental health profession.

Find more details about the Workshop including all session details, networking events and the various registration options on the event registration page here: Register for the FRP Workshop 2025.

Serving up food safety tips in Yass

Key food safety topics, including allergen management, cleaning and sanitising, foodborne illness, and NSW food legislation, took center stage at the recent Retail and Food Service Information Session in Yass. The session, formally opened by Acting CEO of Yass Valley Council, Julie Costa, saw strong support from retail food businesses in and beyond Yass.

Senior Environmental Health Officers Mandy Dickens and Kacey Ireland delivered an engaging presentation on food surveillance in the Yass Valley Local Government Area and explained what happens when businesses fail to comply with food safety standards.

Interactive displays highlighted issues such as improper temperature control and cross-contamination in refrigerators, while a competition challenged attendees to view images and identify compliance issues with hand basin setups.

Held 3 times a year, these sessions aim to foster a strong food safety culture by connecting local businesses, council EHOs, and the NSW Food Authority. Together, they work to ensure safe food practices to protect customers from foodborne illnesses.

Photo: L to R Mandy Dickens (Yass Valley Council), NSW Food Authority’s Local Government Unit team, Josie Rizzo, Ruth Houston, Katherine Gash and Kacey Ireland (Yass Valley Council) with attendees at the Yass RIS.

Meat

Inspections and audits

From October to December 2024, the NSW Food Authority conducted 421 audits and inspections of licensed meat businesses resulting in a 1% drop in compliance, compared to the same reporting period in 2023.

The main audit items attracting Corrective Action Requests during the period were for process control (failure to complete monitoring records or to identify cross contamination risks), food safety program issues, and analytical testing (high level of preservative use in processed meats).

The table below shows comparable data for compliance and audit activity in the meat sector between the same reporting periods in 2023 and 2024.

Reporting period	Oct -Dec 2023	Oct - Dec 2024
Audits & inspections	301	421
Compliance rate	95%	94%

Seafood and Shellfish

Inspections and audits

From October to December 2024, the NSW Food Authority conducted 89 audits and inspections of licensed seafood businesses resulting in a 1% increase in compliance, compared to the same reporting period in 2023.

The main areas where critical defects have been raised at audit were for analytical testing, process control (failure to complete monitoring records), and food safety program issues.

Reporting period	Oct - Dec 2023	Oct - Dec 2024
Audits & inspections	113	89
Compliance rate	96%	97%

Dairy

Inspections and audits

From October to December 2024, the NSW Food Authority conducted 79 audits and inspections of licensed dairy businesses resulting in an improvement in compliance, up 1% to 99% overall, when compared with the same period in 2023.

The main audit items attracting Corrective Action Requests during the period were for hygiene & sanitation and food safety program issues.

The table below shows yearly comparable data for compliance and audit activity in the dairy sector between the same reporting periods in 2023 and 2024.

Reporting period	Oct - Dec 2023	Oct - Dec 2024
Audits & inspections	98	79
Compliance rate	98%	99%

NSW Dairy Industry Overview 2024

The NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) Dairy unit recently released the NSW Dairy Industry Overview 2024. This latest industry overview provides key insights into the state’s dairy sector.

 The dairy industry, which includes farming, manufacturing, and export, is Australia’s third- largest rural industry. Its farm gate value is $6.2 billion, with the total value of dairy products exported worth $3.6 billion.

In 2023/24, Australia was the 4th largest exporter of dairy products globally, with a 3.6% market share (Dairy Australia 2024a¹). In the same year, Australia’s 3,889 dairy farms produced 8,376 million litres of milk, and directly employed an estimated 31,300 workers on farms and in factories.

Dairy is one of NSW’s largest agricultural sectors, and the second largest dairy-producing state in Australia, after Victoria. It is a major source of employment, particularly across regional areas.

Below is a snapshot of the NSW Dairy industry during the reporting period.

Over 450 dairy farms are audited by NSW third-party auditors who play a key role in regulating the industry by conducting farm audits that ensure dairy products made in NSW are safe to consume, ensuring the NSW dairy sector can continue to thrive.

1: Dairy Australia. 2024a. “In Focus 2024: The Australian Dairy Industry.” [11](https://www.dairyaustralia.com). au/industry-reports/australian-dairy-industry-in-focus.

Eggs

Inspections and audits

From October to December 2024, the NSW Food Authority conducted 41 audits and inspections of licensed egg businesses resulting in a 1% drop in compliance, compared to the same reporting period in 2023.

The Food Authority has moved to a risk-based, outcome-focused compliance model, and consistent with the priority classification scheme for an egg business (currently P2), audit frequency will return to every 2 years. Complaints, inspections, and investigations relating to egg businesses will continue to be managed on an as needs basis.

The table below shows yearly comparable data for compliance and audit activity in the egg sector between the same reporting periods in 2023 and 2024.

Reporting period	Oct - Dec 2023	Oct - Dec 2024
Audits & inspections	53	41
Compliance rate	95%	94%

New online form to notify an egg stamping failure

A new online form is now available for egg producers and graders to notify the Food Authority of an egg stamping equipment failure.

All eggs sold in NSW, with the exception of fundraising and farm gate sales, must be individually stamped with the producer's unique identifier to help trace eggs back to the farm.

If egg stamping equipment fails, businesses need to notify the Food Authority within 24 hours of the licence holder becoming aware of the failure.

The Food Authority will review the circumstances and may grant a grace period from stamping requirements until the issue is rectified.

For more, see the new Notify an egg stamping failure online form or our egg stamping webpage.

NSW monitoring highly pathogenic avian influenza (H7N8) outbreak in Victoria

NSW is closely monitoring the current outbreak of H7N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza affecting four commercial layer flocks in the Euroa area of north-east Victoria. All affected properties are located within a ~5km restricted zone.

Our team is in regular communication with Agriculture Victoria, who is leading the response to this outbreak in accordance with Australia’s Veterinary Emergency Plan (AUSVETPLAN) for HPAI. Quarantine measures, surveillance, and response strategies have been implemented to minimise the risk of further spread, including protection for non-impacted areas such as NSW.

For further updates, please visit the Agriculture Victoria website.

NSW preparedness for highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1)

Australia is currently free of the H5N1 strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) currently causing significant wildlife and commercial poultry losses elsewhere around the globe. As part of our preparedness activities for H5N1 in NSW, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) will soon begin validating and updating information for all poultry and egg licensees.

Licensees will receive an email containing a link to a secure online form where they can validate and update their contact and facility information.

Once submitted, if any information needs clarification or is missing, a DPIRD staff member will follow up with a phone call.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping us stay prepared!

Plants

Inspections and audits

From October to December 2024, the NSW Food Authority conducted 18 audits and inspections of licensed plant product businesses resulting in a 2% increase in compliance, compared to the same reporting period in 2023.

The main audit items attracting Corrective Action Requests during the period were for failing to comply with Food Standards Code and hygiene & sanitation issues.

The table below shows yearly comparable data for compliance and audit activity in the plant sector between the same reporting periods in 2023 and 2024. 

Reporting period	Oct - Dec 2023	Oct - Dec 2024
Audits & inspections	24	18
Compliance rate	93%	95%

Update: New berry, leafy vegetable and melon standards

We’re finalising how new national standards for producers and processors of berries, leafy vegetables and melons will be implemented in NSW following public consultation on the draft Food Regulation in December 2024.  

Feedback from the consultation is being considered, including how licensing, fees and charges and potential exemptions could be applied.

Until the Food Regulation 2025 comes into effect in NSW, no proposed licensing requirements, inspections or fees will be imposed on berry, leafy vegetable or melon producers or processors.

Stay in the loop by subscribing to updates on our Berries, leafy vegetables and melons standards webpage. 

Vulnerable People

Inspections and audits

From October to December 2024, the NSW Food Authority conducted 357 audits and inspections of licensed hospitals and aged care businesses resulting in a 1% drop in compliance, compared to the same reporting period in 2023. This sector recorded a high compliance rate which highlighted the mature systems in place and demonstrated that food safety systems and operating standards remained very high.

The main Corrective Action Requests issued during the reporting period were for pre-requisite programs (failing to correctly implement calibration program) and process control (failure to complete monitoring records at the frequency required in the food safety program).

The table below shows yearly comparable data for compliance and audit activity in the vulnerable persons sector between the same reporting periods in 2023 and 2024.

Reporting period	Oct - Dec 2023	Oct - Dec 2024
Audits & inspections	295	357
Compliance rate	99%	98%

TPAs

TPA audit data

Third-party auditors (TPAs) conducted 281 audits between 1 October and 31 December 2024, taking an average of 3.3 (917.50 audit hours/281 audits) hours to complete an audit across the six industry sectors TPAs operate in. All audits attained an acceptable audit outcome.

The table below outlines the results across specific industry sectors serviced by TPA’s.

	Total audits	Acceptable audits (%)	Average audit hours
Dairy farms	21	100	1.7
Cold stores	1	100	2.5
Seafood processing	2	100	3.2
Vulnerable Persons	256	100	3.4
Plant products	1	100	2.5
Multi (plant products seafood processing, cold stores)	-	-	-
TOTAL	281	100%

Manufacturing

Labelling requirements for oat gluten

Importers and manufacturers need to be aware that Australia and New Zealand have some of the strictest gluten labelling regulations in the world.

Specifically, in Australia and New Zealand:

Oat gluten must be declared - if a product contains oat gluten, gluten must be declared on the label.
No gluten free labelling for oats - any foods containing oats cannot be labelled ‘gluten free’.

The Food Standards Code defines gluten as the main protein in wheat, rye, oats, barley, triticale and spelt – proteins that are associated with the medical conditions coeliac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis.

If gluten is present in a product containing wheat, barley, oats or rye, the word ‘gluten’ must be highlighted in the list of ingredients and in an allergen summary statement on the label.

A gluten free claim cannot be made if a product contains oats, even if gluten cannot be detected in the product.

If you are submitting samples for oat gluten analysis, remember to discuss this with your analyst as some gluten tests will not detect oat gluten.

It’s important to comply with gluten labelling requirements - not only because it’s the law, but also to safeguard consumers with gluten-related conditions.

For additional information on labelling requirements visit foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/food-labelling.