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Food Focus May 2006

Editorial

In recent years there has been a rash of reports in the local and international media – and even more on the web – about all sorts of food scares. Benzene in soft drinks, endosulfan and aspartame as carcinogens have been recent additions, and on it goes.

We at NZFSA often find ourselves having to deal with numerous headline-grabbing claims regarding New Zealand food that are neither accurate nor correct, but simply the latest hyperbole to come from single, non-peer reviewed studies or work, often embraced enthusiastically by groups with agendas to push.

NZFSA takes note of them all and, working with other national and international food safety agencies, continually examines new research, and reevaluates whenever necessary.

We are totally committed to protecting consumers and, while no one can be 100% confident about most things in life, we are certain that New Zealand food is as good as it gets – but, we are continually watching, and no stone is left unturned.

This month we have devoted four pages (beginning on p14) to explaining how we keep watch, what we do when we find something that warrants attention, and how we distinguish between the good and the bad science – that which needs further consideration and that which is often nothing more than sensationalism.

Distinguishing between good and bad science is not easy. Good science follows the scientific method: observe, develop hypothesis, repeat testing and refinement until the hypothesis fits the phenomenon. It involves peer review and robust systems of analysis and interpretation. The work can take decades, is slow and rarely makes gripping reading.

Junk science is just the opposite: the studies are poorly conducted, the results can be inconsistent and the research not always accepted by peers – but it often makes headlines.

Of course, there are scientific studies that sit between the two scenarios – there may be an indication of foodborne disease associated with a ‘new’ chemical (such as the presence of benzene in soft drinks) but the scientific evidence that is currently available may not be able to confirm the information. In such cases NZFSA usually maintains a watching brief on the particular issue and monitors new scientific work as it accumulates.

For all of these scenarios, NZFSA has adopted a four-step risk management framework. The framework is our roadmap and underpins every area of our work at NZFSA and is the tool we use for all the research, science and policy-based decisions that we make.

It makes for interesting reading and we hope will go some way to explaining why New Zealand is one of the world’s most trusted suppliers of safe and suitable food.

Andrew McKenzie

Executive Director

Food Focus is a publication of the New Zealand Food Safety Authority. It is published four times a year and widely distributed. For more information, or editorial enquiries about Food Focus please contact Diane Robinson, Senior Advisor (Communications) on 04 463 2528 or email diane.robinson@nzfsa.govt.nz

New Zealand Food Safety Authority

PO Box 2835

86 Jervois Quay, Wellington, New Zealand

Phone 04 463 2500, Fax 04 463 2501

For subscription enquiries or changes to your subscription details, please contact Diane Robinson, as above.