Independent senator Nick Xenophon and Greens senator Rachel Siewert have lent their support to the Greenpeace campaign against unlabelled GM food content, saying they will introduce a joint bill tightening Australia’s food labelling laws. The two senators joined a group of protesting mothers, and Professor Peter Collignon, Director of the Infectious Diseases Unit and Microbiology Department at Canberra Hospital, to denounce the presence of unlabelled genetically modified foods on Australia’s... ...Read more »

As Costco prepares to open its Sydney store in 2011, the retailer, famous for its bulk products, has reported some initial success with its first Australian warehouse in Melbourne, opened in August 2009. The American members-only warehouse chain Costco generated sales of $9 million in its first two weeks, and Costco has reportedly now amassed over 75,000 members in Australia. Costco provides business and private members with bulk-packaged, low-priced goods from a range of product categories including... ...Read more »

New research from the US suggests that children who otherwise practice healthy life habits – eating fruits and vegetables, and engaging in physical activity – are also the largest consumers of flavoured, sweetened ‘sports’ beverages – a habit that could lead to annual weight gain of up to 4.5kg. Assistant professor of behavioural sciences Dr Nalini Ranjit, of the University of Texas, said the problem is one of association. “Children and parents associate these... ...Read more »

The Australian Food and Grocery Council has announced its support for the establishment of a new National Preventative Health Agency (NPHA), part of a bill reintroduced to Federal Parliament this week. The National Preventative Health Agency Bill – reintroduced to Federal Parliament this week – will involve setting up a separate agency to address obesity, alcohol abuse and smoking issues with a focus on keeping people healthy rather than treating illness. The Bill will also establish the NPHA... ...Read more »

US chain Starbucks Coffee has responded to the recent dramatic increases in the price of green arabica coffee, currently close to a 13-year high, as well as significant volatility in the price of other key raw ingredients, including dairy, sugar and cocoa. Starbucks announced that while it has no plans to raise prices of beverages or packaged coffee sold in Starbucks U.S. or international stores across-the-board, it does plan to implement targeted price adjustments on certain beverages in certain... ...Read more »

Cadbury has said it will continue to use its famous “glass and a half” slogan on packaging and in its marketing despite having to remove the line from the back of packs to meet EU labelling rules. The UK confectioner told said that, contrary to reports, the Kraft-owned chocolate manufacturer would continue to use the glass and a half slogan and symbol on the front of packaging. “All we have changed is the descriptor in the ingredients on the back of the pack,” the spokesman... ...Read more »

Denise Morrison, the woman set to become CEO of US food group Campbell Soup Co., has shaken up the company’s senior management team. Morrison is set to move from her role as head of Campbell’s North American soup, sauces and beverage businesses to the job of chief operating officer on Friday (1 October). The 56-year-old has been appointed COO in preparation for her to replace Doug Conant as chief executive next July. As COO, Morrison will lead all of Campbell’s global businesses... ...Read more »

Brisbane apprentice chef Richard Pascoe (20) has taken out top honours at this year’s Fine Foods Awards in Victoria, winning The Regal King Salmon Seafood Main Course Live Challenge amongst a plethora of other awards. Richard was one of a number of young competitors proving that age is no barrier to good taste at the different culinary challenges that took place as part of the Australian Culinary Challenge at Fine Foods in Victoria last week. Richard walked away with four prestigious awards... ...Read more »

“Food production must be paramount in any bid to sustainably manage water in the Murray-Darling Basin,” National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) President David Crombie declared today – just 9 days before the rationale underpinning the Basin Plan is released. According to the facts on the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) website, the Basin: * covers over 1 million square kilometres (14% of the total area of Australia); * generates 39% of the national income derived from agricultural... ...Read more »

Fairtrade has surpassed organic as the latest ethical product set for massive growth in the alcohol sector finds Datamonitor. Research from the independent market analyst has revealed the size of Fairtrade activity in Asia Pacific has increased in Australia and Japan. Indeed, the Fairtrade alcoholic beverage markets in Australia and Japan represent the biggest share of sales in the region and are set to grow at a rate of 18% and 15% respectively, year on year to 2014. Katrina Diamonon, consumer... ...Read more »