World Food Safety Day 2023 - Food standards save lives

Microbial, chemical or physical contamination of food can be reduced or minimized through the implementation of food safety standards.

Food standards are a way to ensure safety and quality. They provide guidance on hygienic food handling for farmers and processors. They define the maximum levels of additives, contaminants, residues of pesticides and veterinary drugs that can safely be consumed by all. Furthermore, standards specify how the food should be measured, packaged and transported to keep it safe. Thanks to the application of standards on things like nutrition and allergen labelling, consumers can know whether the food will be good for them.

The importance of food safety standards in protecting public health is reflected by DFSV’s vision to ensure the safety and integrity of Victoria’s dairy products.

Australia’s national food safety standards are developed by Food Standards Australia New Zealand and published as the Food Standards Code. The states and territories are responsible for implementing the requirements of the Food Standards Code; DFSV implements and enforces these standards in the Victorian dairy industry.