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Pregnancy and healthy eating

Pregnancy and healthy eating A healthy diet is important for pregnant women and their developing baby.​ It's best to start eating well before you become pregnant. If you think you might be pregnant already, don't worry—start following advice as soon as you can. During pregnancy, more of certain nutrients, such as iron, iodine and folic acid are needed, but only a small amount of extra kilojoules. Normal weight gain over the course of a pregnancy is around 11.5–16.0 kg for women who are a healthy pre-conception weight. What to eat It is important to choose a wide variety of nutritious foods. Lots of well-washed fruit and vegetables, wholegrain breads and cereals Dark green leafy vegetables naturally contain iron and…

Published 3 November 2023

Folic acid/folate and pregnancy

Folic acid/folate and pregnancy Folate is a B group vitamin needed for healthy growth and development. This vitamin is known as folate when it is found naturally in food, such as green leafy vegetables, and as folic acid when it is added to food, such as bread and breakfast cereals, or used in dietary supplements. If you are thinking about having a baby you need to know about folate. Folate is essential to the healthy development of babies in early pregnancy. A baby’s growth is the most rapid in the first weeks of life – often before you are aware you are pregnant. The neural tube closes and fuses very early in pregnancy; if it doesn’t close, the result is a neural tube defect (NTD) such as spina bifida.  It is a legal requirement in Australia and New…

Published 3 November 2023

Iodine and pregnancy

Iodine and pregnancy If you are thinking about having a baby you need to know about iodine. Iodine is an essential mineral that we get from the food we eat. While seafood is a good source of iodine, the amount of iodine in other food like milk and vegetables varies depending on where it is grown and how it is made. The developing baby in the womb, babies and young children are at greatest risk from a diet low in iodine. Mild to moderate iodine deficiency can cause learning difficulties and affect physical development and hearing. In recent years there was a re-emergence of iodine deficiency in Australia and New Zealand, with nearly half the population thought to have inadequate iodine intakes. Since 2009, the Australian and New Zealand governments have required the salt used…

Published 3 November 2023

Meat pies

Meat pies (Last updated January 2017) Australians each eat an average of 12 meat pies a year, that’s 270 million pies, while in New Zealand they are even more popular, with the average Kiwi eating 15 meat pies, which is 66 million a year. So it’s no wonder that at Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) many visitors to our website are seeking information about meat pies. Much of the interest in meat pies is about how much meat is in a pie and what kind of meat is used. The Food Standards Code stipulates that a meat pie must contain a minimum of 25 per cent of meat flesh. According to the Code, meat flesh means:

‘The skeletal muscle of the carcass of any buffalo, camel, cattle, deer, goat, hare, pig, poultry, rabbit or sheep, slaughtered other than in a wild state (i.e. not…

Published 3 November 2023

Hemp seeds as food

Hemp seeds as food Proposal to permit foods derived from hemp The Food Standards Code was amended in 2017 to permit the sale of low THC hemp seed foods. In April 2017 ministers responsible for food regulation considered FSANZ's approval of a proposal to permit the sale of low-THC hemp seed foods. Ministers did not seek a review of the decision. Contact your local food enforcement agency to check legislation to support the legal sale of low-THC hemp seed foods. Hemp Hemp or industrial hemp is a cannabis plant species (Cannabis sativa). Historically, hemp has been used as a source of fibre and oil.…

Published 3 November 2023

Microplastics in food

Microplastics in food Microplastics are generally considered to be small plastic particles less than about 5mm in size. Primary microplastics are small to begin with, such as microbeads that are added to personal care products. Secondary microplastics, on the other hand, start off as larger plastic items, such as plastic bags, but degrade into microplastic particles over time. Recently, there's been increasing interest in the effects of microplastics pollution. Media reports have examined microplastics pollution, especially in the marine environment, and possible contamination of the food supply. Most research to date has been on microplastics in the marine environment. Plastic litter can enter our seas and oceans, where it never completely breaks down. Instead, it 'breaks up…

Published 3 November 2023

Palm oil

Palm oil What is palm oil? Palm oil is a vegetable fat obtained from the fruit of the African oil palm tree. Palm oil contains a high proportion of saturated fat. This is unusual as most vegetable fats do not contain high proportions of saturated fats; however there are exceptions such as palm oil and coconut oil. The Dietary Guidelines for Australians and the New Zealand Food and Nutrition Guidelines, recommend that we limit our intake of saturated fats. What are the current regulations for labelling palm oil? There have been calls for palm oil to be identified in the ingredient list due…

Published 3 November 2023

Pine nuts

Pine nuts Pine nuts, which are popular in both recipes and on their own, are seeds produced by several species of the genus Pinus, and have been used as food by indigenous cultures and contemporary societies. Food Standards Australia New Zealand has investigated consumer reports of a bitter, metallic taste resulting from eating pine nuts. This aftertaste is sometimes referred to by consumers as ‘pine mouth’ and can last for a number of days or weeks and can result from eating raw, cooked and processed pine nuts. However, apart from the unpleasant bitter aftertaste, there are no safety issues that can be identified at this time. For sufferers, the condition is apparently self-limiting (it resolves itself) and is relatively benign without any ongoing adverse effects. There has…

Published 3 November 2023

Processed foods

Processed foods What are processed foods? Processed foods are any foods that have been modified from their original fresh or whole state. Many foods we eat are processed in some way. They include:

• bread
• breakfast cereals
• cheese
• cakes and biscuits
• drinks, such as milk or soft drinks
• tinned fruits and vegetables
• savory snacks, such as chips, sausage rolls and pies
• meat products, such as bacon, sausage, ham, salami and paté
• ready to eat meals (including frozen meals).

Published 3 November 2023

A1096 - Xylanase from Bacillus licheniformis as a Processing Aid (Enzyme)

A1096 - Xylanase from Bacillus licheniformis as a Processing Aid (Enzyme) Page last updated: 13 February 2025

Published 8 March 2016