Askafoodtech Pty Ltd

Askafoodtech Pty Ltd We are a food technology consulting company based in Toowoomba. How do we help you grow, and manage risk?

Founding Director, Stewart Eddie and his team have extensive experience in developing new food products.

Sustainability EditionMyth vs Fact : Food Waste in Manufacturing❌ MYTH “Most food waste comes from consumers — not manuf...
06/04/2026

Sustainability Edition

Myth vs Fact : Food Waste in Manufacturing

❌ MYTH “Most food waste comes from consumers — not manufacturers.

✅ FACT ”Manufacturing is one of the largest contributors. Waste occurs in trimming, overproduction, packaging errors, and QC rejections. Reducing waste on the production floor immediately improves profitability and sustainability KPIs.

April is a great time to look at how your kitchen practices are holding up. Do you need help identifying your hidden waste hotspots? Our food technologists use data-driven diagnostics to cut waste at its source.

Drop a "HELP" in the comments below -

05/04/2026

🌼 Happy Easter Sunday 2026! 🌼

Wishing you a day filled with delicious moments, meaningful pauses, and the kind of connections that make sharing food so special.

As we enjoy the flavours of the season, it’s also a beautiful reminder of the journey our food takes — and the responsibility we all share in handling it with care, clarity, and intention.

Have a wonderful Easter Sunday.



The Humble Hero: Celebrating International Carrot Day 🥕At ASKAFOODTECH, we often focus on complex formulations, but toda...
03/04/2026

The Humble Hero: Celebrating International Carrot Day 🥕

At ASKAFOODTECH, we often focus on complex formulations, but today we’re rooting for a kitchen staple that proves simplicity is the ultimate sophistication: The Carrot.

As we celebrate International Carrot Day, it’s the perfect time to look at why this vibrant root vegetable is not just a culinary icon, but a champion of food sustainability and waste reduction

Originally purple or white and grown in Central Asia, the orange varieties we know today were developed to be the nutritional powerhouses they are now.

**Nutritional Goldmine:**
* Beta-Carotene: A precursor to Vitamin A, essential for immune function and eye health.
* Antioxidant Power: Rich in lutein and lycopene, protecting cells from oxidative stress.
* Fibre-Rich: Excellent for digestive health and satiety, making them a "hero ingredient" for functional snacking.

A Champion of Sustainability & Zero Waste
In the food industry, the carrot is a model for the circular economy. Despite being one of the most "wasted" vegetables due to strict supermarket aesthetic standards, with nearly 25-50% often discarded for being "ugly" the industry is innovating to close the loop.

There is power of whole foods to meet consumer demand for clean-label and sustainable products. Whether you are developing a cold-pressed juice line or upcycling into high-fibre snacks.
Using the whole vegetable tops for pesto, peels for stock, pomace for fibre.
Consumer Trust: A familiar, healthy ingredient that aligns with values of sustainability and community impact.

# # # Let’s Innovate Together
With over 20 years of expertise, **ASKAFOODTECH** can help you navigate the journey from raw root to market-ready success while minimizing waste and maximizing impact.

**Ready to grow your next big idea?**
Contact us today to discuss your sustainable product development goals. http://www.askafoodtech.com.au

A little pinch and a punch for the first day of APRIL! 🌱♻️(No returns on the punch — but plenty of returns when you redu...
01/04/2026

A little pinch and a punch for the first day of APRIL! 🌱♻️

(No returns on the punch — but plenty of returns when you reduce waste 😉)
Welcome to Sustainability & Food Waste Month at ASKAFOODTECH!
This April, we’re doubling down on one of the most urgent challenges facing food producers:

👉 Food Waste + Sustainable Food Systems
From farm to fork, Australia loses over 7.6 million tonnes of food each year.
That’s not just waste — that’s lost profit, lost resources, and increased regulatory pressure.
This month, we’re challenging our food producer community to a:

🌿 Sustainability “Waste-Free” Punch-Up:

Pinch your processes for hidden inefficiencies.
Punch up your sustainability systems with science-backed optimisation.

Ready to transform your waste into value?
Let our food technologists guide you toward leaner, greener, compliant operations.
April is Sustainability Month at ASKAFOODTECH. Let’s make it count!

‼️ RECALL‼️Natural Raw C Pty Ltd - Raw C Easter Coconut Water - 1LNatural Raw C Pty Ltd is conducting a recall of the a...
31/03/2026

‼️ RECALL‼️Natural Raw C Pty Ltd - Raw C Easter Coconut Water - 1L

Natural Raw C Pty Ltd is conducting a recall of the above product. The product has been available for sale in Woolworths nationally and online.

Date marking:
All dates up to and including BEST BEFORE 28 JUN 2027

Problem:
The presence of an undeclared allergen (milk).

Food safety hazard:
Any consumers who have a milk allergy or intolerance may have a reaction if the product is consumed.

What to do:
Consumers who have a milk allergy or intolerance should not consume this product. Consumers should return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund. Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice.

For further information please contact:
Raw C Consumer Line
1300 783 661
rawc.com.au

Related links:
Natural Raw C Pty Ltd - Raw C Easter Coconut Water 1L - Recall Notice (207 kb).pdf

View all recalls

31/03/2026

5 ways to avoid being tricked on April Fools Day
Method 1:
…see more

The Recall Report: Decoding Australian Food Safety Trends and Protecting Your Brand As an award-winning Australian food ...
30/03/2026

The Recall Report: Decoding Australian Food Safety Trends and Protecting Your Brand

As an award-winning Australian food technology consultancy, ASKAFOODTECH believes in proactive compliance—not just reactive crisis management. The annual food recall statistics released by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) are more than just numbers; they are a critical roadmap for every food producer aiming for market success and consumer trust.

Our analysis of the latest decade of data reveals a clear and concerning trend: the average annual number of recalls is rising. This isn't necessarily a sign of a failing system—it often indicates better detection, increased regulatory oversight, and greater consumer vigilance—but it absolutely serves as a powerful reminder for businesses to strengthen their internal food safety and labelling systems.

Here is ASKAFOODTECH’s breakdown of the key recall trends from 2020–2024 and how your business can turn this data into actionable strategies. https://1l.ink/RFVJP2D

Want to know more about this service? Drop us a message with PEAL in the subject and we will send you our package details.

Food Safety Quiz: Pasteurisation Verification Check 🥛 For dairy, plant-based milks, and many high-risk juice blends, pas...
29/03/2026

Food Safety Quiz: Pasteurisation Verification Check 🥛

For dairy, plant-based milks, and many high-risk juice blends, pasteurisation is the key step to eliminate microorganisms and extend shelf life. But how do you prove the process was effective for every batch? It's not just about turning up the heat!

The Correct Answer: B. Phosphatase Test

The Takeaway: The Phosphatase Test is a rapid, essential quality control check for dairy and certain juice pasteurisation processes. Since the enzyme alkaline phosphatase is destroyed at slightly higher temperatures than the target pathogen, a negative result confirms the required thermal process was successfully completed. Relying only on temperature logging is not enough; process verification is essential for compliance.

Food Safety Quiz: Pasteurisation Verification Check 🥛 For dairy, plant-based milks, and many high-risk juice blends, pas...
27/03/2026

Food Safety Quiz: Pasteurisation Verification Check 🥛

For dairy, plant-based milks, and many high-risk juice blends, pasteurisation is the key step to eliminate microorganisms and extend shelf life. But how do you prove the process was effective for every batch? It's not just about turning up the heat!

The Quiz Question - After a batch of milk or juice has undergone High-Temperature Short-Time (HTST) pasteurisation, which is the most critical quality control test used to immediately confirm that the heat treatment was adequate to kill the target pathogen (Coxiella burnetii in milk, for example)?

Food businesses must have robust Quality Systems and HACCP controls to manage common bacterial risks in the Australian f...
25/03/2026

Food businesses must have robust Quality Systems and HACCP controls to manage common bacterial risks in the Australian food supply.

Top Foodborne Bacteria:
Salmonella: Found in raw/undercooked poultry, eggs.
Campylobacter: Found in raw/undercooked poultry, unpasteurised milk, and contaminated water.

Escherichia coli (E. coli): Found in improperly cooked beef, unpasteurised milk/juice, and fresh produce.
Listeria monocytogenes: Found in ready-to-eat foods like deli meats, soft cheeses; can persist in production environments.

Clostridium perfringens and Bacillus cereus: Toxin-producers. C. perfringens is in meats/gravy; B. cereus is in improperly refrigerated cooked rice/pasta.

How Food Becomes Infected:
Source Contamination: Bacteria naturally present in the environment or in animal guts get onto the food.

Cross-Contamination: Pathogens transfer from raw food or contaminated surfaces to ready-to-eat food.

Temperature Abuse: Bacteria multiply rapidly in the 'temperature danger zone' (5°C to 60°C) when food is left out or cooled/reheated improperly. Spores in some bacteria survive cooking and grow if cooling is too slow.

Critical Focus: Pathogen Persistence on Leafy Vegetables

For the fresh produce sector, especially leafy greens, managing microbial risk requires heightened vigilance against pathogen persistence.

Water Quality is Paramount: Contaminated irrigation water remains the most significant source of pathogen introduction.

,

“Deadly Deathcap Mushroom Warning Issued After Heavy Rain Across Australia”After recent heavy rain and temperate autumn ...
25/03/2026

“Deadly Deathcap Mushroom Warning Issued After Heavy Rain Across Australia”

After recent heavy rain and temperate autumn weather, the Food Safety Information Council warns Australians about the rise of deadly Deathcap mushrooms.

Why wild mushroom foraging is dangerous and how to keep your family and pets safe.

The Food Safety Information Council is warning Australians not to pick or eat wild mushrooms following heavy rain and milder autumn weather, which increase mushroom growth. The main risk is the deadly deathcap mushroom, where one mushroom can be fatal to a healthy adult, and deaths have occurred in Australia and overseas.

Deathcap mushrooms are difficult to identify and can be mistaken for edible varieties, especially by people familiar with mushrooms from overseas. Cooking, peeling, or drying does not remove the toxin, and symptoms may be delayed, making poisoning particularly dangerous.

Mitigating the risk:-
*Only eat mushrooms bought from reputable retailers
*Do not rely on social media for mushroom identification
*Supervise children and pets and remove mushrooms from gardens
8Seek immediate medical help if ingestion is suspected and contact the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26)

For more information - connnect here https://1l.ink/L8G4M2H

‼️ RECALL‼️Barkly Smokehouse Pty Ltd - Lux Ham 1.9 kgBarkly Smokehouse Pty Ltd are conducting a recall of the above pro...
24/03/2026

‼️ RECALL‼️Barkly Smokehouse Pty Ltd - Lux Ham 1.9 kg

Barkly Smokehouse Pty Ltd are conducting a recall of the above product. The product has been available for sale in independent retailers, including IGA, in NSW and VIC.

Date Marking: Use by: 6/05/2026

Problem:
Microbial (Listeria monocytogenes) contamination.

Food safety hazard:
Listeria monocytogenes may cause severe illness in pregnant women, unborn babies, neonates, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. The general population can also become ill from consuming food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

What to do:
Consumers should not eat this product. Consumers should return the product(s) to the place of purchase for a full refund. Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice.

For further information please contact:
Barkly Smokehouse Pty Ltd
0424 898 707
info@barkly.com.au
www.barkly.com.au

Related links:
File
Barkly Smokehouse Pty Ltd - Lux Ham Recall Notice [257 KB].pdf

View all recalls

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Toowoomba, QLD
4350

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Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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+61481704323

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