This week, The National Measurement Institute will be conducting two-day workshops in Sydney and Melbourne, and evening information sessions in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. The sessions aim to increase awareness of allergen detection issues and discuss associated technical measurement issues. For online registration, go to: www.foodallergendetectionworkshops.com.au/

A VITAL Review Group has been established to oversee the review of the science underpinning the VITAL grid and to complete the VITAL Review.  The group will also revise VITAL tools (calculator, FAQs, worked examples) and other supporting information, such as training documents, in line with amendments to the VITAL process as a result of the review. The review project is expected to be finalised by February 2010, with the VITAL procedure and VITAL tools being launched on the website at that time. 

Financial members of the Coeliac Society of Australia for 2009/10 will be issued with an exclusive member discount card which will provide monthly discounts on selected gluten free items at Coles stores. Monthly discounts will be offered to members for the period 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2010, and will not be available to the general public. The gluten free products discounted for members in Coles stores nationally will be advertised on the Coeliac Society of Australia website: www.coeliac.org.au/Coles.html

‘Whole’, the new bottled water product developed by Fonterra utilises Fonterra Ingredients’ ClearProtein™, a whey protein isolate developed at the Fonterra Research Centre in Palmerston North, New Zealand. Due to its milk content, Fonterra have advised the drink is not suitable for anyone with cow's milk allergy.