Work begins on a new public online database of branded foods sold in Australia

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has partnered with GS1 Australia (GS1) to develop the Australian Branded Food Database, a central database with the nutrient content of branded foods sold in Australia. The database is expected to be a central source that will help people make informed decisions about foods and beverages, help FSANZ create standards, as well as inform public health and nutrition initiatives. 

To ensure a wide range of products and information are gathered, FSANZ and GS1 will work with food manufacturers and retailers. Over time, the database will build, link, and add to other information stores and datasets, including the Australian Food Composition Database.  

The data will include information such as the brand and food name, the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN), nutrition panel, listed ingredients, pack and serving sizes, the manufacturer, and season-specific products. If relevant, it will also list dietary fibre and fruit, vegetable, nut, and legume (FVNL) content. 

The database will help Australians make informed decisions on food purchases and benefit the food industry, health professionals, and policymakers. It aims to be a detailed, accurate, and regularly updated ‘single source of truth’ and support initiatives such as the Healthy Food Partnership Reformulation Program and the Health Star Rating System – the Health Star Rating (HSR).

FSANZ has said the goal is to have data on 85% of all food and beverage products on national retailers’ shelves in the database by 2023. Existing GS1 members can provide data to FSANZ through the National Product Catalogue (NPC). Other manufacturers and retails will be able to submit information through an FSANZ portal that is expected to be operational mid-2022.

The Australian Branded Food Database is funded by the Department of Health. However, FSANZ has stated that the data collected is to inform public health initiatives and not for compliance or enforcement reasons. 

Article by Food Safety Select