A change in food import regulations is making waves across New Zealand — and one beloved Australian snack could be the first casualty.
It’s official: due to new labelling and ingredient transparency laws, a long-standing favourite found in many Kiwi pantries may soon vanish from supermarket shelves.
A snack shared across the Tasman
For decades, this Aussie treat has been a quiet staple in New Zealand homes. Known for its sweet taste, nostalgic packaging, and unbeatable price, it’s long been part of school lunches, road trips, and afternoon tea.
But under new 2025 food compliance standards — focused on allergen declarations, artificial additives, and stricter origin traceability — certain imported items are being reviewed.
And this one is on the chopping block.
Why the new rules are hitting this product hard
The new regulations, passed quietly late last year, require full transparency on food origin, processing methods, and any synthetic flavourings — even in trace amounts.
According to a senior official at New Zealand Food Safety, “These standards are in place to ensure consumer health, but also to encourage cleaner imports and better local sourcing.”
While most large brands have adapted, several iconic Aussie snacks — especially those produced for bulk export — still rely on artificial colourants and palm-oil-based fillings that don’t meet the updated NZ code.
This particular product (which officials haven’t named directly, but sources suggest is a type of filled biscuit or marshmallow-based bar) contains at least three ingredients flagged for reformulation.
Fans react: “It’s part of our childhood”
The reaction online has been immediate.
“This is part of my childhood! Every time I saw it at the dairy, it brought back memories of growing up in Rotorua,” one user wrote on social media.
Others are calling for an exemption, at least temporarily, to allow the brand to rework its recipe without disappearing from the market completely.
However, importers say reformulating to meet the new NZ guidelines could take 12 to 18 months, if it’s financially viable at all.
What’s next?
For now, some stores are still selling through existing stock — but once it’s gone, it may be months (or years) before the product returns, if ever.
Shoppers have been advised to check expiry dates and ingredient labels carefully, as updated versions may slowly roll out with compliant recipes.
Whether this snack will survive the regulatory storm — or become a tasty memory — remains to be seen.
One thing’s for sure: for many Kiwis, it’s the end of an era.
What is this treat ??