NZIFST Newsletter - Nibbles # 451, October 28th, 2025

In this issue:

• Conference 2026 - Expressions of Interest to Present Now Open
• NZIFST Events Calendar 
• A note to student members
• Other Industry Events coming up
• Food New Zealand's latest issue link
• NZIFST Head Office Notes
  • The Food Industry Consultants Directory is live!
  • Are you a food and beverage label expert - FSANZ needs your help.
• NZ Food Safety News 
  • MPI launch their new Exporter Help webpage
• Food Standards News
  • including a link to the FSANZ Stakeholder Satisfaction Survey
• Latest Job Vacancies

Next Nibbles Date: November 11th, 2025

Waikato Branch ask you to Save the Date for their End of Year Branch Dinner on Nov 13th at the Windows Restaurant at Wintec in Hamilton. Click here for more details and to register.

Otago Southland Branch encourages you to register for their End of Year Branch Dinner on Nov 20th at Ombrellos Kitchen & Bar in Dunedin North. Click here for more details and to register.

Auckland Branch asks you to Save the Date for their End of Year Branch Dinner on Nov 20th at a to be confirmed location in Auckland. Details to come.

Central Branch invites you to their End of Year Branch Dinner on Nov 27th from 5.30pm at Long Beach Tavern in Waikanae Beach. Click here for more details and to register

20th NZOZ Sensory Symposium is being hosted by AIFST in Melbourne, Australia - 10 - 12th February 2026. NZIFST Members can access the discount code for this event here. Click here to register and find out more.

Reminder to Student Members

If you are receiving this email from us at a University email address that is not likely to be accessed over the next few months, or potentially not at all, we encourage you to head over to your profile, and update your primary email address to something else.

If you are moving on to employment, we encourage you to upgrade your membership to Graduate 1 level membership, which is very easy to do.

If you need any help with either of these activities, this document will help you.

Plus Prizes, Prizes, Prizes!:

Every current student NZIFST member who upgrades^ their membership to Graduate 1 Membership before January 30th 2026 will go into the draw for a $200 prize pack.

^this includes paying the invoice for the membership before January 30th 2026.

Make proven prebiotic claims that naturally nourish the good gut bacteria
The healthy ageing agenda has recently gained significant traction across the Asia Pacific region, drawing the attention of both government bodies and consumers alike. This heightened concern stems from the rapid expansion of the ageing demographic.1
As individuals age, their immune system naturally weakens and the composition of the microbiota also changes, prompting a decrease in the population of bifidobacteria; the good bacteria in one’s body. With 70% of the inner defence system housed in the gut, ensuring nutrition that fosters a healthy gut microbiome will play a significant role in supporting one’s immune health. Prebiotics help the good bacteria, which are naturally present in the body, to grow. Defined by the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP), a prebiotic is “a substrate that is selectively utilised by host microorganisms conferring a health benefit.” There are only very few prebiotics which are scientifically and clinically proven to be classified in accordance with ISAPP’s definition. BENEO’s chicory root fibres, Orafti® Inulin and Oligofructose, belong to this exclusive group of proven prebiotics. As two in three consumers (68%) reporting that they are (extremely) interested in prebiotics,[1] food manufacturers have the golden opportunity to craft healthy and palatable food and beverage products for consumers. BENEO’s Orafti® Inulin and Oligofructose offer a wealth of health benefits, including managing and reducing inflammation, weight management2,3, as well as increasing calcium absorption for bone health.4,5 Read our in-depth paper to discover more benefits and how to make valid prebiotic claims in your region. BENEO source references for this article are available on request.

Other Food Industry Events

18 Nov	NZFSSRC - Industry Futures Forum - Food safety risks in a changing world

Scholarship Round Now Open MIA is now accepting applications for both undergraduate and post-graduate study scholarships in the 2026 academic year. Applications close on Wednesday 26th November 2026 Click here for more information and to apply

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NZIFST Members can attend AIFST Webinars at the AIFST Member Price. 
If you are an NZIFST member, you can find the discount codes here. 

23 Oct - 4 Dec: Food Science Fundamentals

11 Nov - 9 Dec: Sharon Natoli: Speaking with Confidence & Growing Your Influence - A Short Course for Aspiring Female Leaders in Food Science

10 - 12 Feb 26: 20th NZOZ Sensory and Consumer Science Symposium

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The New Zealand Association of Scientists (NZAS) invites you to be a part of a survey of Scientists and Technologists

The aim of this survey is to develop a comprehensive understanding of the science and technology environment in New Zealand.

For the purpose of this survey, "scientists and technologists" include all those who have trained in the physical, chemical, biological, engineering, mathematical, social and health sciences and who are (or have previously been) involved in research related activities. This includes research support and administration roles.

Click here for more information and to participate.

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Do you have a food industry related event you would like to advertise with us?
Contact the NZIFST Executive Manager to find more about costs and discounts by offering discounts to NZIFST Members.

Food New Zealand Latest Issue

Oct/Nov 2025 READ IT NOW ON ISSUU Featuring in the October/November issue Who were crowned the Champions of Ice cream?  NZ Ice Cream and Gelato Awards 2025 In Focus:  Ingredients Enviro friendly packaging for your next picnic Conference 2026  Call for Abstracts

Food Industry Consultants Directory - Now Live! We have been working with the team at Gecco to get the Food Industry Consultants Directory onto the new website in a format that is searchable by keywords, business name, and area serviced. Click on the banana phone to see who is currently listed, and pass on the details to anyone you know who needs advice on a wide variety of food related projects. If you would like to advertise your consulting services with on the directory click here for more details.

Are you a food and beverage labelling expert?

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has started a new project (W1172) to update estimates of government-mandated costs of changing food and drink labels. These updated cost estimates will support FSANZ in assessing the costs of proposed regulatory changes.

The expert group is expected to operate from late October 2025 through to the beginning of May 2026 (with a break over Christmas), primarily via email and video conference. An initial video meeting will occur in November 2025, depending on the availability of participants.

• Approved experts will be invited to participate in several rounds of a survey where they will be asked to provide quantitative estimates of label change costs.
• Participants will be asked not to disclose costs for any individual business. All estimates should reflect general, industry-wide averages.
• Panelists will be paid a flat fee for their time.

If you have a good handle on the costs associated with label changes, you might be the right fit for the group of experts FSANZ is looking for to advise on any proposed changes.

Please email Mark Jones at FSANZ to be considered for the panel. All applications need to be approved before participation.

Have you got something to crow about? Launched a new product? Been nominated for an award? Let us know, so we can share your news and celebrate with you!

Having issues with the website?  We all know that new systems have the habit of not quite working as they should. If you are having any issues with anything in the new system/on the website, click on the Having Issues? link in the Quick Links on the front page (see the image to the left), and this will take you to some How to Guides, and a form to let us know what your issue is.  We will do our best to get your issue fixed as quickly as possible.

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has launched a new web page to help exporters of innovative food and fibre products build strong support networks and take their ideas to market. Explore it here: Support for exporting innovative food and fibre products. Whether you're starting out or scaling up, this page is designed to connect you with the right people and tools to move forward. It lists some key organisations that can help you with your ideas, as well as MPI support programmes and funding that may be available.

MPI Consultations, Legislation, Standards and Reviews.

If you are interested in what MPI is currently working on, check here for Consultations, and here for Legislation, Standards and Reviews.

To hear more about food importer responsibilities, upcoming changes to imported food requirements, current events such as recalls related to imported foods and future webinars, you can subscribe to the quarterly Food importer news by visiting this page: Food importer news | NZ Government (mpi.govt.nz) or the actual link: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/import/food/food-importer-news/

Job Vacancies - Food Industry Professionals Wanted

Automation & Controls Engineer			People & Culture Manager
Auckland	Permanent/Full time		Canterbury	Permanent/Full time
Drive efficiency and add value in a dynamic high-speed, high-volume food production facility with a strong focus on Siemens automation systems.			Shape the people strategy for a growing agricultural business. Balance career opportunity and lifestyle

Vine Manager			Add your job here
Auckland	Permanent/Full time
Grow your leadership and operational skills in a well established, growing, supportive orchard with real career development and strong team culture.			Do you have a job in the food industry that you would like to advertise on our website and in Nibbles. Click here for more details.