Modern day food advocates are calling for a separation between the food standards of Australia and those of New Zealand under FSANZ, according to the NZ Herald.
They are also saying that New Zealand needs to significantly raise its standards in order to better protect its citizens and ensure the quality of its food output.
Currently there are 18 various food additives allowed by the Food Standards Australia New Zealand that are actually illegal and banned from use of any kind in other nations. A few of the additives in question have been shown to cause cancer when tested on animals. Others have been linked to evidence that suggests they cause nausea, hypertension, rashes, breathing problems, allergies, and vomiting in humans.
FSANZ, on the other hand, feels that all of the additives on its approved-for-use list are fine for use on consumables.
Former Green MP, Sue Kedgley had the following to say on the matter:
"It's always been a mystery why we have such lax standards in New Zealand and why our authorities would appear to be utterly unconcerned about the fact that additives which cause cancer in animals should be permitted in New Zealand.
And it seems like they [FSANZ] [are concerned] about anything that causes microbial contamination, like salmonella, but things which don't cause you to be sick, but things that cause cancer in animals, they tend to take a blind eye to, it's a bit of a 'she'll be right' attitude."
Kedgley went on to state concern over the possible effects consuming “cocktails” of these additives might cause over time. She also stated that she believed it was time that New Zealand began to think about developing a food authority separate from FSANZ that would be tighter and stricter in regards to what additives are allowed in foods.
