The effective banning of kosher slaughter, known as shechita, in New Zealand, has taken a new turn, with the New Zealand Herald reporting that Agriculture Minister David Carter, the architect of the ban, broke the rules governing his portfolio by considering trade implications when making the original decision. Carter approved animal welfare regulations in the new Commercial Slaughter Code which, by requiring animals to be stunned before killing, effectively made slaughter according to strict kosher... ...Read more »

Fosters today released its 2010 Sustainability Report, detailing actions by the company regarding environmental and corporate social responsibility made this year. Among the company’s actions for the year were savings on energy and water, responsible drinking programs and carbon offset donations. “Our Energy & Water Efficiency Program has continued to drive improved performance,” said Fosters CEO Ian Johnstone. “More than 20 energy saving projects are expected to save around... ...Read more »

Consumer group CHOICE says that while advances in technology and transportation extends the shelf life of food, there is a price for availability and convenience in terms of nutrition and taste. A variety of techniques are used by the food industry to extend the shelf life of fresh foods, including atmospheric packs, storage of apples in 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), vacuum packing with carbon dioxide and nitrogen, and of course refrigeration. CHOICE disputes the description of such products as ‘fresh’.... ...Read more »

Metcash Ltd, Australia’s leading independent grocery and liquor wholesaler, distributor and marketer, has signed as a national donor to Foodbank. Foodbank is the largest hunger relief organisation in Australia, last year collecting, warehousing and distributing 19 million kilograms of food to 2,200 welfare agencies across the country – representing 25 million meals. Foodbank has seen a 20 per cent rise in the number of welfare agencies seeking assistance in NSW over the last 12 months as the... ...Read more »

New Zealand meat processor Silver Fern Farms revealed last week that it had swung to a loss in its most recent financial year after restructuring costs hit its bottom line. For the 12 months to the end of September, the firm made a net operating loss of NZ$800,000, compared to a profit of NZ$5.4m last year. One-off restructuring costs of NZ$7.2m contributed to the loss. Silver Fern’s EBIT halved, falling from NZ$36.3m to NZ$18m. Revenues dropped to NZ$1.81bn from NZ$2.01bn. Silver Fern Farms... ...Read more »

French supermarket giant Carrefour announced yesterday that it is testing two new convenience store concepts in France, including Carrefour City Café – a combination supermarket and food hall. Carrefour City Café stores will offer over 700 takeaway food products including sandwiches, snacks, products that are ready to eat or heat, cold drinks and pastries. The 100-150 square metre stores will also offer a dining area and Wi-Fi. The first outlet will open in Bordeaux on 16 December. The French... ...Read more »

A Dominos pizza store in Quakers Hill has been fined $116,000 and its director $13,500 for multiple breaches of the NSW Food Act, Primary Industries Minister Steve Whan said today. “This is a very significant fine and represents one of the worst examples of food safety and hygiene breaches that we’ve seen in this state,” Minister Whan said. “The Court found that the Dominos store and its director were guilty of a sustained and ongoing disregard for the cleanliness, maintenance... ...Read more »

Danone has signed an agreement to acquire YoCream, the leading producer of frozen yogurt in the United States, for US$103 million. The transaction will enable Danone to move into frozen yogurt, a fast growing segment in the US. It will also gain access to an away-from-home distribution network, in addition to its existing channels. The move reflects Danone’s strategy for expansion of the fresh dairy products market in the US, in particular by extending the times and places where its products... ...Read more »

Symrise, with Lanxess on site, broke the ground for the facility that will double its ability to produce synthetic menthols in Holzminden. The additional capacities, which start operations in 2012, double Symrise’s production of menthol in Holzminden. Lanxess supplies Symrise with the intermediate products needed to manufacture menthol.Dr. Heinz-Jürgen Bertram, the Symrise CEO, and Dr. Hans-Georg Schmitt, head of the Basic Chemicals business unit at Lanxess, jointly broke ground at the Holzminden... ...Read more »

A new consultative forum, set up to facilitate more effective engagement between consumer and public health groups and Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), will meet for the first time today.Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) Chief Executive, Steve McCutcheon, said the Consumer and Public Health Dialogue would include representatives from peak consumer and public health bodies and public health academics. “This forum is intended to improve FSANZ’s understanding of community... ...Read more »