Media Centre

The Food Safety Information Council can provide the media with a range of food safety experts that can communicate to consumers in simple terms.

Note: the figure of an estimated 5.4 million cases of food poisoning each year in Australia cited in many older releases has now been updated to 4.1 million a year following new research published in 2014.

Call us on 0407 626 688 or email info@foodsafety.asn.au

Media releases

2023

Get your kids involved in preparing a safe and healthy school lunch box (24 January 2023)

2022

Don’t be raw and risky – food safety tips for Christmas and Summer entertaining (5 December 2022)

Aussies taking a food safety risk by eating raw or rare meat – don’t be raw and risky this Australian Food Safety Week

Don’t be raw and risky – buy a meat thermometer (and don’t forget to use it!) – Australian Food Safety Week 12 to 19 November 2022

Many Aussies still not always washing hands after going to the toilet or before touching food – Global Handwashing Day 15 October 2022

Reusable food containers and food safety (5 September 2022)

Good bugs, bad bugs – preserving and fermenting food in glass containers National Science Week 13 to 21 August.

Winter roasts – preparing them safely (20 July 2022)

Australia’s Food Safety Report Card released for the UN World Food Safety Day 7 June 2022

Keep that Democracy Sausage safe – food safety tips for Election Day fundraisers (18 May 2022)

Know your catch – food safety and recreational fishing (13 April 2022)

Don’t take a risk with food safety during and after floods (4 March 2022)

As the academic year begins and students return to campus young people are urged to learn more about food safety (21 February 2022)

Wet weather brings warning not to pick wild mushrooms because of deathcap risk (9 February 2022)

Teach your kids to wash hands correctly plus back to school lunch safety tips (19 January 2022)

2021

Your poultry doesn’t need a bath plus other food safety tips for Christmas and Summer entertaining (13 December 2021)

Aussies get it wrong about refreezing defrosted raw chicken – Australian Food Safety Week 13 to 20 November 2021.

Aussies urged to be prepared with a food safety toolbox – 25th Australian Food Safety Week 13 to 20 November 2021

Australians washing and sanitising their hands 15% less than this time last year – Global Handwashing Day 15 October 2021

Spring is here – 5 food safety tips for growing your own fruit and vegetables (1 September 2021)

National Science Week 14 – 22 August 2021 – Food Safety Learning Centre (15 August 2021)

Winter warmers – bulk cooking, storing and transporting hot food safely (20 July 2021)

Australia’s Food Safety Report Card released for the UN World Food Safety Day 7 June 2021

Handwashing not hand sanitiser best way to stop gastro causing norovirus (28 April 2021)

Put seafood on ice this Easter (31 March 2021)

Warning not to pick or eat wild mushrooms because of poisoning risk (10 March 2021)

As the academic year begins young people are urged to become more food safety savvy (17 February 2021)

Schools and parents urged to register for food safety training (plus Summer lunch box food safety tips) (20 January 2021)

2020

Christmas and holiday entertaining – how to be food-safe and COVID-smart (16 December 2020)

Summer TV and radio ad campaign launched during AFSW20 (16 November 2020)

Aussies urged to learn about food safety- Australian Food Safety Week 14 – 21 November 2020 – food safety it’s in your hands

Surprise finding: no major increase in Australians washing their hands since this time last year – Global Handwashing Day 15 October 2020

Don’t risk illegal food purchases or sales on social media (23 September 2020)

Roll up risk for raw fish: what’s in your sushi, sashimi and ceviche (26 August 2020)

National warning on backyard chooks after salmonella outbreaks (9 July 2020)

Australia’s Food Safety Report Card released for the UN World Food Safety Day 7 June 2020

Kombucha, pickling, veges in oil and backyard chooks: how to keep food safe with your new #StayHome hobby (13 May 2020)

Coronavirus/COVID-19 and food safety: your questions answered (3 April 2020)

Warning not to pick or eat wild mushrooms because of poisoning risk (12 March 2020)

Back to Uni warning to students to wash their hands (17 February 2020)

Get your kids involved in back to school lunchbox food safety (21 January 2020)

Food safety advice for bush fires and power outages (3 January 2020)

2019

Keep your family and friends food safe this Christmas and Summer entertaining time (16 December 2019)

43% of Australians taking a food poisoning risk by not always washing their hands after handling raw eggs (12 November 2019)

1 in 4 Australian adults take a food safety risk eating raw eggs and 12% eat them often (8 November 2019)

1 in 5 Australians don’t always wash their hands after going to the toilet (23 October 2019)

Keep those bad bugs away from home fermented food and drinks (8 August 2018)

Australia’s food safety report card released for the inaugural World Food Safety Day 7 June 2019

Keep the Democracy Sausage safe – tips for Election Day fundraisers (13 May 2019)

Keep those hands clean on the election trail – important health advice from the Food Safety Information Council (24 April 2019)

Cathy Moir announced as new Chair of the Food Safety Information Council (10 April 2019)

As Autumn kicks in, people are warned not to pick or eat wild mushrooms because of deadly deathcap mushroom risk (3 April 2019)

Avoiding Listeria-laced lunchboxes and other back to work and school food safety tips  (23 January 2019)

2018

Guess who’s coming to dinner – avoid the listeria risk at Christmas time (13 December 2018)

Australians urged to buy accurate meat thermometers – AFSW18 food poisoning take it seriously (14 November 2018)

 One in three Australian households at risk of potentially deadly Listeria infection AFSW18 (9 November 2018)

Keep those hands clean by learning these simple tips – Global Handwashing Day (15 October 2018)

‘Food Poisoning – take it seriously!’ announced as the Australian Food Safety Week 2018 theme (20 August 2018)

Get ready for the single use plastic bag ban from 1 July with this food safety advice (June 2018)

Mothers’ Day reminder for mums-to-be about the risk from Listeria infection (13 May 2018)

Love your backyard chooks but remember to wash your hands – Pet Day 11 April 2018

Easter entertaining – your friends and family could be at risk of Listeria (29 March 2018)

Autumn foragers warned not to pick or eat wild mushrooms because of deadly deathcap risk (21 March 2018)

Concerns raised about young people’s poor food safety knowledge as the academic year begins (9 February 2018)

Keep your Australia Day BBQ safe – use a meat thermometer (25 January 2018)

Love those leftovers – back to school and work lunch box food safety advice (16 January 2018)

2017

Take the guesswork out of Christmas entertaining– use a meat thermometer for great food cooked safely every time (19 December 2017)

Is it done yet? – Summer TV and radio campaign launched to reduce food poisoning (14 November 2017)

Australians clueless about safe cooking temperatures – Use a thermometer for great food, cooked safely every time (10 November 2017)

Warning to wash hands regularly to reduce your chance of flu and food poisoning: Global Handwashing Day (15 October 2017)

Pets can share more than their love – food safety and pets tips released (4 October 2017)

‘Is it done yet? Use a thermometer for great food, cooked safely every time’ announced as Australian Food Safety Week 2017 theme (19 September 2017)

Spring is here – 5 food safety tips for growing your own fruit and vegetables (1 September 2017)

Winter warmers – food poisoning risk of bulk cooking soups, casseroles and stews (1 June 2017)

Listeria and pregnancy – Mothers’ Day reminder for mums-to-be (12 May 2017)

Easter seafood – keep it chilled (12 April 2017)

Deadly deathcap mushrooms – warning not to pick or eat wild mushrooms (1 March 2017)

Don’t leave that leftover takeaway on the benchtop overnight – food safety tips for young people leaving home (17 February 2017)

Keep that back to school lunchbox cool with an ice brick or frozen water bottle (17 January 2017)

Smelly fridge, sink full of dirty dishes? Resolve to take care of your unloved workplace kitchen in 2017 (3 January 2017)

2016

Undercooked turkey, wilted salad – how to avoid a raw and risky Christmas (15 December 2016)

Over a third of Australians risk food poisoning by playing raw egg roulette (5 November 2016)

Australians urged to put up new handwashing posters for Global Handwashing Day (15 October 2016)

Food safety advice about bringing food to family or friends in aged care launched today (30 September 2016)

‘Raw and risky’ foods announced as theme for 20th Australian Food Safety Week 6 – 12 November 2016 (18 September 2016)

Welcome to our mobile friendly website (9 June 2016)

Call to share your ‘Gastro Nightmare’ – crowdfunding appeal launched to save Food Safety Week (1 May 2016)

Don’t come the raw prawn – warning to keep your seafood safe this Easter (23 March 2016)

Keep your kid’s lunchbox safe – back to school food safety advice (24 January 2016)

2015

New food safety summer TV campaign launched (29 December 2015)

No bath for the Christmas turkey – food safety tips for the holiday period (18 December 2015)

Eggs not milk the food safety risk – Australian Food Safety Week 8 to 15 November 2015

Hum Happy Birthday twice for healthy hands Global Handwashing Day 15 October 2015

Did you know? (busting the food safety myths) announced as the theme of Australian Food Safety Week 2015 (21 September 2015)

Five tips to help your family avoid gastro this winter (10 July 2015)

Rachelle Williams announced as new FSIC Chair (4 June 2015)

Australian consumers’ food safety report card released – World Health Day 7 April 2015: Food Safety

Survey finds 25% of parents fail to pack a frozen drink or freezer block in their child’s school lunchbox (21 January 2015)

2014

Don’t wash the turkey and other tips to stop your Christmas becoming a recipe for disaster (19 December 2014)

Don’t leave your cooked rice on the benchtop overnight – food safety experts warn (8 November 2014)

Temperature danger zone announced as theme for AFSW 2014 (22 September 2014)

Don’t pack food poisoning bugs in your lunchbox – back to work and school food safety warning (17 January 2014)

2013

A Moveable Feast – food poisoning risks of transporting food during holiday season (17 December 2013)

Consumers ignore vital food safety advice latest research shows (10 November 2013)

Don’t cook or handle food when you’re crook – experts warn of risk of winter gastro outbreaks (9 July 2013)

Cool school lunches and befriending the ownerless workplace fridge – back to school and work food safety tips (21 January 2013)

2012

Warning on raw egg dishes –advice for the holiday season (15 December 2012)

Food safety experts warn home cooks not to wash raw chicken – Australian Food Safety Week  (12 November 2012)

Easter eggs – raw and risky ( 4 April 2012)

Back to work and school: don’t put yourself or child at risk by not keeping packed lunches cool (24 January 2012)