Nutrient Reference Values in the Food Standards Code - Potential Revision

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is seeking consultation on revising the nutrient values in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code to bring them in line with the 2006 Nutrient Reference Values  (NRV) for Australia and New Zealand. Current nutrient values are based on the 1991 Recommended Dietary Intakes (RDI) for Australians and other data.

Regulatory levels of nutrients in the Code are used for food labelling and food composition purposes - label declaration of % daily intake (macronutrients and sodium) and % RDI ( vitamins and minerals); criteria for making minimum and maximum content claims about vitamins and minerals voluntarily added to a food.

The 2006 Nutrient Reference Values for Australians, compared to the 1991 RDIs for Australians, has an increased range of nutrients, different values to the 1991 RDIs and  different age ranges, amongst others.

Nutrient reference values in the Code for infants and young children are not based on the 2006 NRV.

The consultation paper can be accessed at

 http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/_srcfiles/NRVs%20Consultation%20paper%20FINAL.pdf

Submissions must be received by 30th July 2010