Review of the year
February
In February, Food Standards Australia New Zealand recommended that low-THC hemp should be approved as a food following an application by the hemp industry. With over 2,000 shares on social media, the response to the FoodNavigator-Asia report reflected the passion of public and industry feeling on the issue.
Turning to Malaysia, we learnt how food safety scandals in China had paved the way for Malaysian food companies to export halal products to the beleaguered nation (pictured).
A study found that consumers in India and China placed more emphasis on safety and environmental quality than expected. They rated food safety certification much higher than was believed at the time.
It was identified that nearly two-thirds of nutrition labels on a range of small pre-packaged food and drinks in Hong Kong had been breaking trading guidelines by not being easy enough to read.