Update from Vincent Arbuckle, DDG, NZFS

Kia ora koutou,

As we near the end of 2024, I want to recognise the hard work and dedication of those in the food industry, who continue to ensure that consumers have safe and suitable food. This year, New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) made great progress towards strengthening New Zealand’s food safety system. One key area has been the increased support providers for food importers through the launch of a help for food importers webpage and a targeted newsletter, which aim to better support importers in meeting their requirements. I look forward to the great work continuing next year.

Our Consumer Food Safety Insights Survey published in June this year highlighted the fact that most consumers are washing raw chicken at least some of the time. This year’s summer campaign is focused on this behaviour and encourages people to ‘Skip the Wash’.  You’ll see the advertising below in your supermarket, on Facebook and Instagram throughout the summer period and I encourage you to spread the word.

NZFS staff have been working hard recently to support Biosecurity New Zealand in response to the detection of a high pathogenic strain of avian influenza, H7N6, in rural Otago. Avian influenza - also known as bird flu - is not a food safety concern. It remains safe to eat thoroughly cooked poultry, eggs, and egg products. For the latest information on the H7N6 detection, visit the MPI website here.

For the Christmas/New Year period, most MPI sites will be closed from 12 noon, Tuesday 24 December 2024, and will open again on 3 January 2025. Emails will not generally be monitored during this time except for those that relate to public safety. There may be reduced staff attendance on 23/24 December and on 3 January.

From us here at NZFS, we wish you a safe and enjoyable festive season. We hope that you will have an opportunity to take a break at some point over the summer period.

Food News will take a break for January 2025 and will be back in your inbox in February 2025.

Ngā mihi nui,

Vincent Arbuckle
Deputy Director-General, New Zealand Food Safety

Food Act Template Review Project and Biltong

We need your help! Please email us at foodactinfo@mpi.govt.nz if you:

• have any current biltong manufacturers registered under Simply Safe and Suitable template food control plan; 
• have ideas on promoting the new National Programmes (NP) and My Food Plan (MFP) for when these are published;
• think digital grey scale, A4 versions of the MFP and NPs would be useful; or
• know of any businesses that would be keen to do some content testing.

Improving the food safety requirements of imported sesame seed and tahini-based products

NZFS is working to review and improve the food safety requirements of imported sesame seed and tahini-based products. This work responds to recent outbreaks of Salmonella, as well as recalls of sesame seeds, tahini, halva, and hummus, due to potential contamination.

To inform this complex piece of work, we have established a Working Group of importers, manufacturers and major retailers of sesame seed and tahini products. We have conducted interviews with Working Group members to gather information about the supply chain for these products and the types of further processing occurring in New Zealand. We thank all the businesses who have engaged with us so far. NZFS has also examined the production and processing of sesame seeds, tahini, and tahini-based products, and assessed evidence to conduct a risk assessment of these products. We are using this information to inform initial considerations for potential risk management options.

To help further inform our work, we would like to talk with any businesses involved in the following:

• The importation of retail-ready sesame seeds.
• The manufacture of nut and/or seed spreads containing sesame seeds or tahini.
• The manufacture of toppings and seasonings containing sesame seeds
• The importation or manufacture of sesame paste, and other sauces or dressings sourced from Asia.

If you know of any businesses who can support this work, please encourage them to email import.systems@mpi.govt.nz.

Businesses that qualify for remote verification

We have identified that remote verifications are being undertaken on businesses operating to template food control plans. 

We want to remind verifiers recognised to undertake remote verification of the criteria that businesses must meet to qualify for remote verification. The business must:

• be registered at a national programme level;
• have a good compliance history (i.e. it needs a compliance history, so can’t be an initial verification);
• not export food;
• have the technology available to connect with you at their site(s), and can use it; and
• be at least 1.5 hours away in travel time.

Verifiers recognised to undertake remote verification do have template food control plans in in their scope for times of emergency, and this is explained in the conditions of their recognition.

For further information on remote verification, see the web page here: Remote verification of food businesses

New videos: Food importer responsibilities under the Food Act 2014

To ensure food importers understand their responsibilities under the Food Act, NZFS has published translated versions of two important videos on the NZFS website. The videos help businesses to know who needs to register as a food importer and the rules that all food importers must follow. The videos are available in English, Hindi, Chinese, and Korean.

A reminder regarding simulated recall requirements

It is a busy time of year for businesses and consumers. Verifiers, when you’re visiting food businesses this holiday season ensure they are recall ready.

Many businesses with a plan or programme under the Food Act, Wine Act, or Animal Products Act, as well as importers and exporters are required to conduct a simulated food recall at least every 12 months after a simulated recall, or 12 months after a genuine recall if that recall demonstrated the traceability and recall procedures to be effective.

What is a simulated food recall?

A simulated or mock food recall tests the effectiveness of traceability and recall procedures and helps your business prepare for the real thing. Guidance on how to conduct a simulated food recall can be found here: How to do a simulated food recall.

Food service businesses such as restaurants, cafes and coffee carts are not expected to have procedures for recalling the food they sell to consumers. This is because the food is sold for immediate consumption. These businesses are also not expected to conduct a simulated recall. However, all food businesses have a part to play in the food chain and can be affected by a food recall at any time. Food service businesses should understand what a food recall is and how it can affect their business.

Judgements under the Food Act 2014 webpage

To support the Food Safety Officer Workshops and Enforcement Forums delivered to Territorial Authorities earlier this year, NZFS published a Judgments under the Food Act 2014 web page summarising judgments under the Food Act 2014 and the Food Act 1981. 

The web page aims to support those working in food safety enforcement by improving access to relevant judgments under both Food Acts.

Check out the web page for more information: Judgments under the Food Act 2014 | NZ Government.

Minor updates to the Integrated Wine Standards Management Plan (WSMP) model

Following feedback from industry, NZFS has made some minor amendments to the Integrated Wine Standards Management Plan (WSMP) model. The changes have been made to align the plan with MPI Trade Certification and to provide better clarity and improve usability.

As these are minor amendments with no changes to the requirements, businesses using MPI’s Integrated WSMP model do not need to transition to version 2 as both versions are acceptable. Version 2 of the Integrated WSMP model can be found under the ‘Templates’ section of the following web page: Guides, forms, and templates for winemaking.

If you have any further questions, please contact wine.rules@mpi.govt.nz.

Updated version of the New Zealand Food Composition Database released

If food businesses want to know what is in the food they use, the New Zealand Food Composition Database provides a reliable source of this information. It contains the nutrient content of over 2,850 foods. This updated version contains 191 new or updated food records, and up to 434 components per food, including 74 new components.

The database, funded by the Ministry of Health, is available here: https://www.foodcomposition.co.nz/.

Data available on the site can be used to generate nutrition information panels for food labels.

Food News end-of-year survey

As we near the end of 2024, we’ve included a short survey asking about your experience with receiving Food News. We would love to hear your thoughts so we can ensure we are sending you the right content.

Please complete the short survey here. The survey will close on Monday 13 January 2025.

NZFS availability over the holiday period

Food Compliance Services can be contacted any time over the holiday period for any urgent food safety matters such as food recalls, via 0800 008 333 and ask for the on-call Food Compliance Officer.