Foodwise Winter

Winter 2025 | Issue 72

Foodwise - Winter 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:

Natural Disaster Relief Grants available
Contributing to a global dialogue on food allergen management
New way to verify NSW Food Safety Supervisor certificates
New children’s food safety education resource
Food Regulation 2025 update: Changes for berries, leafy vegetables and melons

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. 

Natural Disaster Relief Grants available

The NSW and Australian governments recently announced $25,000 Natural Disaster Relief Grants are now available in local government areas impacted by the NSW East Coast severe weather event that began on 18 May 2025 and/or Tropical Cyclone Alfred severe weather from 3 March 2025 onwards.  

Approved applicants can access an initial $5,000 upon providing photographic evidence of direct damage, with the remaining funds available once valid tax invoices and proof of payment are submitted and verified.  

In addition, $10,000 Rural Landholder Grants are available to rural landholders and aquaculture producers in local government areas declared for the NSW East Coast severe weather event, who do not qualify for the Natural Disaster Relief Grant.  

A full list of declarations and local government areas eligible for financial assistance is available on the Rural Assistance Authority (RAA) Declarations webpage.  

Detailed eligibility criteria can be found in the program guidelines on the RAA website, along with information about how to apply.  

Tathra Oysters take top honours

The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RAS) has crowned Australia’s best Sydney Rock Oysters at the Sydney Royal Aquaculture Competition, with this year’s results producing the highest score of any single oyster exhibit in the competition’s 23-year history.

Tathra Oysters continued their winning streak, taking out top honours for the third consecutive year. They claimed both Champion Commercial Sydney Rock Oyster (supported by the NSW Food Authority) and Champion Boutique Sydney Rock Oyster—a category introduced last year to provide an opportunity for smaller, boutique-style farming to be showcased.

During judging, each exhibit is scored out of 100, with points deducted based on factors such as the oyster’s uniformity, shape, and presentation, along with its condition, colour, meat fullness, flavour, texture, and richness.

Established in 2001, the NSW Food Authority is proud to support the Competition, which recognises the event's important role in promoting product excellence and maintaining high industry standards.

In further recognition of their exceptional quality, Tathra Oysters were also awarded the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW’s prestigious 18th Annual President’s Medal—selected from 4,274 exhibits and 110 Sydney Royal Champions presented throughout the 2024 Sydney Royal year.

*Tathra Oysters has humbly been awarded the RAS 18th President’s Medal, having won the inaugural President’s Medal 19 years ago*.

*Tathra Oysters has humbly been awarded the RAS 18th President’s Medal, having won the inaugural President’s Medal 19 years ago*.

To learn more about Tathra Oysters and the President’s Medal finalists, visit www.rasnsw.com.au/presidentsmedal

Contributing to a global dialogue on food allergen management

The NSW Food Authority was proud to take part in the recent 2025 Food Allergen Management Symposium (FAMS 2025), joining a global community of experts, advocates and professionals dedicated to advancing food allergen management across science, healthcare, industry and regulation. 

Hosted by the Allergen Bureau and held over three days, FAMS 2025 opened with a series of interactive workshops exploring real-world challenges faced by food-allergic consumers and those who prepare their food. This hands-on approach set the tone for a collaborative and solutions-focused event. 

The Food Authority’s own allergen expert, Alan Edwards, contributed to the agenda – first in a practical workshop for health professionals on investigating allergen-related incidents, and later with a presentation on assessing the risk of a mislabeled product. 

As the regulator and source of truth for food safety in NSW, the Food Authority welcomed the opportunity to connect with stakeholders, share insights, and reinforce the importance of a science-based, evidence-driven approach to allergen management. 

FAMS 2025 closed with a clear message: meaningful progress in allergen safety relies on shared purpose, trust, and collaboration. The Food Authority extends its thanks to the organisers and participants for fostering this vital conversation. 

Read more on FAMS 2025 – Final reflections & conference close | Allergen Bureau website 

(3^rd from left) Alan Edwards, NSW Food Authority’s Senior Food Incident Response & Complaints Coordinator, joined a Workshop panel at FAMS 2025.

(3^rd from left) Alan Edwards, NSW Food Authority’s Senior Food Incident Response & Complaints Coordinator, joined a Workshop panel at FAMS 2025.

Updated Food Allergen Management Consensus Statement now available 

The Australian & New Zealand Food Allergen Management Consensus Statement—originally launched in 2022—was recently updated to reflect evolving best practice in allergen management. 

Led by the National Allergy Council and developed in collaboration with all relevant stakeholder groups, the revised statement improves clarity around Precautionary Allergen Labelling (PAL) and clearly outlines responsibilities across the food supply chain. 

Hands-on food safety fun at the Sydney Royal Easter Show

The NSW Food Authority’s award-winning handwashing stand made a popular return to this year’s Sydney Royal Easter Show, drawing thousands of curious visitors of all ages to the education pavilion. 

With the help of Food Authority staff, showgoers tested their handwashing habits using glow in the dark potion and UV lights. The illuminating results highlighted commonly missed areas like thumbs, fingernails, and the backs of hands—prompting laughs, friendly competition, and most importantly, plenty of learning. 

To build on the handwashing message, staff provided take-home resources after the activity. Children and tweens received a new story and activity book, Sam and Lee’s Micro Mission: A Food Safety Adventure (PDF, 7MB), while adults were given a handy magnetic shopping list filled with practical food safety tips.  

The return of this hands-on exhibit proves just how engaging, effective – and memorable – food safety education can be when delivered with fun, curiosity, and learning in mind. 

In addition to the hands-on fun, more than 1,000 visitors completed a short Food Safety Quiz—providing valuable insights to help guide our future education efforts. 

Read more and complete the quiz on our Sydney Royal Easter Show webpage. 

*Andrew Davies, Acting CEO, NSW Food Authority.*

*Andrew Davies, Acting CEO, NSW Food Authority.*

New children’s food safety education resource

Teaching children about food safety can set them up with healthy habits for life.

To help them understand the basics in a fun and engaging way, the Food Authority website now features a new children’s section, Kids corner.

Pages in the section include Kids in the kitchen, explaining why some food can make you sick and how to prevent it, and Food allergy allies, which explores what children can do to help their friends or siblings with food allergy.

A Sydney Royal Easter Show webpage also takes a look back at our popular annual stands and the results of our community surveys.

More children’s resources will be developed soon, so watch this space.

Retail

New way to verify NSW Food Safety Supervisor certificates

EHOs, RTOs and food businesses will soon be able to easily check the validity of NSW Food Safety Supervisor (FSS) certificates online.

New FSS certificates will include scannable QR codes to instantly confirm a certificate’s authenticity. Older certificates without a QR code can also be manually verified by entering the name and certificate number into a simple form on the Food Authority website.

The initiative aims to prevent fraud and provide a quick, reliable way for EHOs and food businesses to check a certificate’s authenticity.

New web hub for local government authorised officers

Local government authorised officers can find a wealth of information relevant to their work in a new section of the Food Authority website, informally named the Food Regulation Partnership (FRP) web hub.

*Food Regulation Partnership (FRP) web hub.*

*Food Regulation Partnership (FRP) web hub.*

The hub includes information on relevant legislation, FRP roles and responsibilities, details on events and engagement, and resources for authorised officers – including frequently asked questions.

The web hub is based on the existing log-in FRP Portal, which will eventually be retired.

Check it out at foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/frp

New edition - Fast Choices program: nutritional information menu labelling published 

The NSW Food Authority has published the 2^nd edition of the Fast Choices program: nutritional information menu labelling - a user guide for ready-to-eat food outlets. 

Fast Choices is the NSW Government’s nutritional information menu labelling program for business chains and franchises selling takeaway, ready-to-eat (RTE) foods. The program aims to help consumers make healthier choices when eating out. 

Businesses that meet the definition of a ‘standard food outlet’ under the Food Act 2003 and Food Regulation—such as large chains, quick-service restaurants, cafés, salad bars, and other food court or home delivery services—must display the kJ content of standard food items and a daily energy intake reference statement. 

The updated user guide now includes new and innovative menu formats, such as digital-only menus, app-based ordering, and self-service kiosks. Businesses using these formats must now also ensure kJ labelling is clearly displayed and accessible to customers before they make their food choices.  

The guide also includes visual examples to help businesses understand and meet their nutritional information menu labelling obligations.  

For more information and access to the updated user guide, visit the Fast Choices program: nutritional information menu labelling webpage

*New edition: Fast Choices program: nutritional information menu labelling.*

*New edition: Fast Choices program: nutritional information menu labelling.*

Biennial FRP Workshop a success

Last month’s Food Regulation Partnership (FRP) Workshop in Sydney was a big success.

Themed ‘Outside the square – plating up new perspectives’, the 2-day workshop served as a valuable professional development opportunity for officers who conduct food regulatory inspections and investigations.

Innovation recognised in FRP Champion Awards

A highlight of the FRP Workshop was the presentation of the coveted FRP Champion Awards, which celebrate outstanding service, achievements and impact in food safety. Congratulations to the winners:

Group – City award: City of Canterbury Bankstown’s Environmental Health (Public Health) team (pictured above)
Group – Country award: MidCoast Council’s Environmental Health and Food Safety (below left)
Individual – Country award: City of Newcastle's Senior Environmental Health Officer Sarie Wheatland (below centre)
Individual – City award: Strathfield Council’s acting Environmental Services coordinator Erin Hogan (below right).

Next Retail and Food Service Information Session in Bankstown

City of Canterbury Bankstown will co-host the next Retail and Food Service Information Session on Tuesday 24 June 2025. Authorised officers from other council areas are encouraged to attend. 

The sessions are designed to promote a culture of food safety in the retail food sector and are held 3 times a year. 

Learn more 

Following City of Canterbury Bankstown, Hornsby Shire Council will host the final Retail and Food Service Information Session for the year in October.

Meat

Inspections and audits

Between January and March 2025, the Food Authority conducted 101 inspections and 294 audits of licensed meat businesses. Compliance in this sector has improved by 2%, rising to 94% compared to the same period in 2024. Corrective actions were implemented in response to issues identified through analytical testing, particularly regarding the levels of preservatives in processed meats. A key contributing factor was a lack of understanding of food standards regulating preservative use.

To address this, the Food Authority will provide targeted guidance and educational resources to stakeholders, industry representatives, and regulated businesses. Future compliance activities within the meat retail sector will focus on managing the risks linked to preservative use and addressing individual non-compliance.

The table below shows comparable data for compliance and audit activity in the meat sector between the same reporting periods in 2024 and 2025.

Reporting period	Jan -Mar 2024	Jan - Mar 2025
Total audits	156	294
Total inspections	134	101
Compliance rate	92%	94%

Meat Industry Consultative Council

The last Meat Industry Consultative Council (the Council) was held on 5 March 2025.

Issues considered by the Council via video conference included updates on:

Meat industry food safety compliance activities for the period from July to December 2024
Animal welfare update, which included:
- Australian Animal Welfare Standards & Guidelines for Livestock at Processing Establishments
- Poultry Standards and Guidelines
- Virtual fencing
An update on the remake of the Meat Industry Levy Regulation, which is due for statutory repeal on 1 September 2025, unless it is remade
Sheep and Goat Electronic Identification Tags (eID).

A full summary of meetings outcomes is available here.

More information about the Meat Industry Consultative Council, including its purpose, functions, and membership can be found on the NSW Food Authority website.

Seafood and Shellfish

Inspections and audits

Between January and March 2025, the Food Authority conducted 14 inspections and 59 audits of licensed seafood businesses, resulting in a 1% increase in compliance compared to the same period in 2024.

Critical defects identified during audits were primarily related to analytical testing, process control—particularly the failure to complete monitoring records—and issues with food safety programs. In response to emerging risks and shifting strategic priorities, the Food Authority may revise the scope and frequency of its compliance monitoring activities. Complaints, inspections, and investigations involving seafood businesses will continue to be addressed on an as-needed basis.

The table below provides a year-on-year comparison of compliance and audit activity in the seafood sector for the January–March reporting periods in 2024 and 2025.

Reporting period	Jan - Mar 2024	Jan - Mar 2025
Total audits	80	59
Total inspections	23	14
Compliance rate	95%	96%

NSW Seafood Industry Forum

The last Seafood Industry Forum was held on 7 May 2025.

Issues considered by the Forum via video conference included updates on:

Seafood industry food safety compliance activities for the period from July to December 2024
White Spot response and program update
Aquatic Biosecurity update
Animal Welfare update.

Read the full meeting summary (PDF, 185 KB)

More information on the Seafood Industry Forum, including its purpose, functions, and membership can be found on the NSW Food Authority website.

NSW Shellfish Committee – meeting outcomes

The NSW Shellfish Committee, which provides advice to the Minister and the Food Authority on the operation of the NSW Shellfish Program, met on 26 February 2025.

Issues considered by the Committee during the meeting included updates on:

Harvest area management report
Vibrio risk management update
Development of a Local Shellfish Program Charter (see article inclusion in this edition of Foodwise).

Read the full meeting summary (PDF, 256 KB).

More information on the NSW Shellfish Committee, including its purpose, functions and membership, is on the Food Authority website.

Supporting Local Shellfish Programs in NSW 

To support the effective management of local shellfish programs, the NSW Food Authority appoints Local Shellfish Committees. These committees play a vital role in helping administer programs and providing a direct line of consultation with industry through the NSW Shellfish Committee. 

To guide their operation, the Local Shellfish Committees Charter and Procedural Guidelines outline key responsibilities, including the important requirements for holding Annual General Meetings. 

View the Local Shellfish Committees: Charter and Procedural Guidelines (PDF, 208 KB) on the NSW Food Authority website.

Learn more about the NSW Shellfish program.  

*Local Shellfish Committees Charter and Procedural Guidelines.*

*Local Shellfish Committees Charter and Procedural Guidelines.*

Dairy

Inspections and audits

From January to March 2025, the Food Authority carried out 11 inspections and 108 audits of licensed dairy businesses. Compliance within the dairy industry remained strong, maintaining a high rate of 97% during this period. The most common Corrective Action Requests (CARs) issued related to hygiene and sanitation, food safety programs, and product labelling.

The table below provides a year-on-year comparison of compliance and audit activity in the dairy sector for the January–March reporting periods in 2024 and 2025.

Reporting period	Jan - Mar 2024	Jan - Mar 2025
Total audits	98	108
Total inspections	15	11
Compliance rate	98%	97%

Eggs

Inspections and audits

From January 2025 – March 2025, the Food Authority conducted 4 inspections and 13 audits of licensed egg businesses. The industry continues to perform strongly, maintaining a high compliance rate of 95% during this period.

Critical defects identified during audits were primarily related to process control, analytical testing, and monitoring within food safety programs. Notably, there have been no repeated failures, and most issues were addressed immediately, indicating that businesses are implementing effective corrective actions.

The table below shows yearly comparable data for compliance and audit activity in the egg sector between the same reporting periods in 2024 and 2025.

Reporting period	Jan - Mar 2024	Jan - Mar 2025
Total audits	10	13
Total inspections	5	4
Compliance rate	95%	95%

Egg Industry Consultative committee – meeting outcomes

The last Egg Industry Consultative Committee (the Committee) was held on 2 April 2025.

Issues considered by the Committee via video conference included updates on:

Egg industry food safety compliance activities for the period from July to December 2024
Animal welfare update, which included discussion on the:
- Australian Animal Welfare Standards & Guidelines for Poultry – implementation options
- Australian Animal Welfare Standards & Guidelines for
- Livestock at Processing Establishments – an update on activity
- Virtual fencing
- Delivery of the Renewed Australian Animal Welfare Strategy (AAWS).

Read the full meeting summary (PDF, 216 KB)

More information on the Egg Industry Consultative Council, including its purpose, functions, and membership can be found on the Food Authority website.

Plants

Inspections and audits

From January to March 2025, the Food Authority conducted 7 inspections and 17 audits of licensed plant product businesses. Compliance in the sector improved by 5%, reaching 93% overall compared to the same period in 2024.

The most common Corrective Action Requests (CARs) issued during this time were related to non-compliance with process control requirements, food safety programs, and prerequisite programs.

The table below presents a year-on-year comparison of compliance and audit activity in the plant product sector for the January–March reporting periods in 2024 and 2025.

Reporting period	Jan - Mar 2024	Jan - Mar 2025
Total audits	12	17
Total inspections	5	7
Compliance rate	88%	93%

Update: New berry, leafy vegetable and melon standards

Food Regulation 2025 update: Changes for berries, leafy vegetables and melons

The Food Authority is redrafting the NSW Food Regulation 2025 in response to feedback about how new national berry, leafy vegetable and melon standards will be implemented in NSW. It follows consultation on the draft Regulation in December 2024. 

We are progressing a range of changes that include delaying the start of the national berry, leafy vegetable and melon standards in NSW to 12 February 2026. For more information, see the Food Authority website. 

The Food Regulation 2025 is expected to be finalised on or before 1 September 2025.

Vulnerable People

Inspections and audits

From January to March 2025, the Food Authority conducted 9 inspections and 306 audits of licensed hospitals and aged care businesses. The vulnerable persons sector continues to demonstrate strong performance, maintaining a high compliance rate of 99% during this period.

The primary Corrective Action Requests (CARs) issued related to failures in prerequisite programs—specifically, improper implementation of calibration procedures—and process control issues, such as not completing monitoring records at the frequency specified in the food safety program.

The table below presents a year-on-year comparison of compliance and audit activity in the vulnerable persons sector for the January–March reporting periods in 2024 and 2025.

Reporting period	Jan - Mar 2024	Jan - Mar 2025
Total audits	244	306
Total inspections	6	9
Compliance rate	99%	99%

NSW Vulnerable Persons Food Safety Scheme Consultative Committee

The NSW Vulnerable Persons Food Safety Scheme Consultative Committee (the Committee) was held on 27 February 2025.

Issues considered by the Committee via video conference included updates on:

Vulnerable Persons food safety compliance activities for the period July to December 2024
Clarification of the use of parsley in vulnerable persons facilities
Managing requests for higher risk foods.

Read the full meeting summary (PDF, 143KB)

More information on the Meat Industry Consultative Council, including its purpose, functions, and membership can be found on the Food Authority website.

TPAs

TPA audit data

Third-party auditors (TPAs) conducted 291 audits between 1 January 2025 and 31 March 2025, taking an average of 3.2 (920.20 audit hours/291 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 TPAs.

	Total audits	Acceptable audits (%)	Average audit hours
Dairy farms	72	100	2.0
Cold stores	6	100	5.75
Seafood processing	2	100	1.75
Vulnerable Persons	208	100	3.5
Plant products	3	100	3.4
Multi (plant products seafood processing, cold stores)	-	-	-
TOTAL	291	100%

Prosecutions

Prosecution – Royal Indian Cuisine

A restaurant in Tuncurry was recently fined a total of $9,000 plus professional costs after being convicted of three offences under the NSW Food Act 2003.  

Further information about this prosecution and other current food safety breaches in NSW can be found on the NSW Food Authority’s Name and Shame register. 