Clean bill of health for Aussie food supply
world, according to results of the 20th Australian Total Diet
Survey released last Friday. The survey, conducted by the
Australian food agency Food Standards Australia New Zealand
(FSANZ), is part of the monitoring process of the food supply
undertaken by the federal government to ensure the protection of
consumer health and safety.
Australia's food supply is one of the safest and cleanest in the world, according to results of the 20th Australian Total Diet Survey released last Friday.
The survey, conducted by the Australian food agency Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), is part of the monitoring process of the food supply undertaken by the federal government to ensure the protection of consumer health and safety.
Parliamentary Secretary on Health, Trish Worth, commented : "Key results showed that the estimated dietary intake of pesticide residues and contaminants are well within acceptable health standards."
A total of 65 commonly eaten foods - both raw and cooked - were tested for the ATDS and prepared to a 'table ready' state before they were analysed. A wide variety of commonly available foods were selected including a range of meats, dairy products, fruit, vegetables, breads and cereals.
All foods were screened for pesticide residues, including chlorinated organic pesticides, organophosphorus pesticides, synthetic pyrethroids, carbamates and fungicides. Foods were also screened for metals that occur in the environment, antimony, arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, selenium, tin and zinc.
Results showed that the estimated dietary exposure to pesticide residues and environmental metals were all within acceptable Australian and international health standards.
"In addition, there were no detections of either aflatoxins or ochratoxin A in nut and cereal products, the foods in which they are most likely to be found. The tests also found no antibiotic residues detected in any meat and poultry products, dairy products or eggs," added Ms. Worth.
Results of the survey will be forwarded to the World Health Organisation as Australia's contribution to the Global Environmental Monitoring System that collects data on the levels of pesticide residues and contaminants in the food supply worldwide.
But the consumer is not the only party to benefit from the results. As Ms. Worth concluded : "This diet survey not only helps to reassure Australian consumers of the food they are buying, but also our overseas markets of the safety of the Australian food supply."
