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FSANZ proposes bottled water fluoride approval
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has released a report for public comment that proposes amending the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code to allow manufacturers to voluntarily add fluoride to bottled water. The addition of certain substances, such as fluoride, must undergo a pre-market safety evaluation by FSANZ before they are approved for use at specified levels.
If FSANZ approves the sale of bottled water containing added fluoride, it will be a voluntary permission. Manufacturers will be able to add fluoride or not, under the conditions of the food standard. FSANZ welcomes submissions from interested parties, which should be in FSANZ's hands by Tuesday December 23, 2008.
The Australian Beverages Council Ltd has applied for approval for the voluntary addition of fluoride, at a level of 0.6 - 1.0 milligrams per litre (total of naturally occuring and added fluoride), to packaged (bottled) water. This level equates to fluoride levels in fluoridated reticulated water supplies. The applicant claims approval would enable bottlers to offer fluoridated packaged water to consumers as an alternative to fluoridated reticulated water, or as a source of fluoride for those who do not have access to fluoridated reticulated water.
FSANZ has concluded that there are no public health and safety concerns and proposes to approve the application, with the condition that the presence of added fluoride must be stated on the package label. FSANZ welcomes public comment from industry, public health professionals, government agencies and consumers. Details of the applications above can be found on www.foodstandards.gov.au.
The Australian Beverages Council has welcomed the proposed permission. If granted, the permission would allow the voluntary addition of low levels of fluoride to bottled water at levels consistent with Sydney and Melbourne tap water.
Tony Gentile, Beverages Council CEO, welcomed the recommendation on behalf of memebrs of both the Council and the Australasian Bottled Water Institute (ABWI). This recommendation, when approved, will allow bottlers to develop either new brands or variations of existing brands with added fluoride. This will fill a need for fluoridated bottled water in regions where the local water supply is not fluoridated or where consumers have to rely on tank water. It will also provide consumers with a choice away from home. "Fluoridated bottled water will be clearly labelled to ensure that consumers who are sensitive to fluoride will be able to clearly identify the product of their choice," Mr Gentile said.
Catering Plus
Dcember -January Issue
www.cateringplus.co.nz