FoodLegal

Histamine is a biogenic amine that serves an important physiological role in the human body. Although histamine can be found naturally in many foods, excessive histamine in one’s diet can also cause severe reactions or intolerance or allergy symptoms for many people. In more extreme cases, under given circumstances, histamine can cause food poisoning (scombroid poisoning). This article reviews the role of histamine in the human body, the symptoms of histamine poisoning and intolerance, the presence of histamine in certain foods, the limited impact of current processing histamine levels, and other issues. This article invites opportunities by regulators and food companies to review their approach in relation to histamine in foods. Histamine is a biogenic amine that serves an important physiological role in the human body. Although histamine can be found naturally in many foods, excessive histamine in one’s diet can also cause severe reactions or intolerance or allergy symptoms for many people. In more extreme cases, under given circumstances, histamine can cause food poisoning (scombroid poisoning). This article reviews the role of histamine in the human body, the symptoms of histamine poisoning and intolerance, the presence of histamine in certain foods, the limited impact of current processes on histamine levels, and other issues. This article invites opportunities by regulators and food companies to review their approach in relation to histamine in foods. (The author would like to thank FoodLegal founder Joe Lederman for raising several hypothetical scenarios that triggered new avenues for the research on this topic).

A summary of regulatory developments in food law for the month of April 2021.

Tree nuts are one of the most prevalent and important food allergens, potentially affecting up to 3% of people worldwide, with variation in numbers due to age, region, or the way how the allergy is defined [1]. Mandatory labelling of tree nuts is one of the key elements of food allergy management in Australia [2]. A lack of clarity within the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (Food Standards Code) regarding precisely which tree nuts must be declared as allergens, and the common industry practice of labelling individual tree nuts as a group in summary statements or precautionary labels [3], have been cited as some of the reasons for introducing new Plain English Allergen Labelling (PEAL) laws. This article addresses changes to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (Food Standards Code) in the implementation of new allergen labelling laws that concern the identification of tree nuts. These laws have resulted in a significant change to the allergen labelling requirements for food products to be sold in Australia. These requirements form part of a new regulatory regime, which became law on 25 February 2021, known as the 'Plain English Allergen Labelling' (PEAL) laws.

To address the issue of plastic waste in Australia, the federal Australian government and several State governments have announced initiatives designed to reduce plastic waste and avoid the use of some plastic materials. Australia has been considering numerous issues on plastic waste for several years, with ongoing negotiations between governments at Federal and State level with food and packaging company stakeholders, municipal governments and environmental groups. This article reviews the background and likely impacts of a National Plastics Plan announced in March 2021 as well as the single-plastic bans being implemented in Australian States.