The Federal Government has announced today that it does not support the Traffic Light labelling system previously recommended by the Blewett Report. However, it does support the report’s recommendation on palm oil labelling in Australia. The Federal Government’s position was released today, ahead of the 9 December meeting of food and health ministers comprising the Australian New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council. Front-of-pack labelling Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon... ...Read more »

Differences in recommended serving sizes on like-for-like Australian food products are making it “near impossible” for shoppers to compare the nutritional content of the products, according to new research by Sydney-based medical research body, The George Institute. The George Institute’s study contained in its ‘Examination of serving sizes of selected food products in Australia’ report, published today, was commissioned by Australian consumer advocacy group CHOICE. The George Institute’s... ...Read more »

Coles supermarket chain has responded to reports that its new ‘Active Retail Collaboration’ supply chain scheme constitutes uncompetitive behaviour. Coles’ Active Retail Collaboration technology provides a breakdown of the estimated amount of stock it will require from any particular supplier at any point of the year. However, recent media reports claim that some Coles suppliers believe the scheme’s primary focus is making money rather than streamlining the supermarket’s supply chain. Coles... ...Read more »

A change to the Wine Australia Corporation Act 1980 means that from now on, ‘Sherry’ produced in Australia must no longer be called “sherry” but can be called ‘Cream, crusted/crusting and solera fortified’; and ‘Port’ is now called ‘Vintage, ruby and tawny fortified’. It is also possible for Australian wine-makers to invent their own descriptor or trademark as another option. The change in law was included in an Australian Bureau of Agricultural... ...Read more »

The Australian Government has today announced the first round of its A$99 million ‘Action on the Ground’ program to support farmers as they adjust to Australia’s new carbon tax regime. Action on the Ground is funding farmers over the next six years to trial and demonstrate on-farm practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions such as methane and nitrous oxide or increase soil carbon. The program is a part of the Carbon Farming Futures Fund under the government’s A$1.7 billion Land Sector... ...Read more »

The latest Australia-wide study of chemicals in foods comprised in the Australian diet, released today by Australia’s food regulator Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), has found only low rates of contamination in the foods that are typically consumed by Australians. The Australian Total Diet Study (ATDS), formerly known as the Australian Market Basket Survey, is Australia’s most comprehensive assessment of consumers’ dietary exposure (intake) to a range of food chemicals including... ...Read more »

The findings just released of a nationwide survey by Australian consumer research group, Roy Morgan Research, reveal which confectionery brands Australians are choosing to buy, and why Australians decide to eat sweets in the first place. Roy Morgan Research sampled the views of 18,483 Australians aged over 14 years who said they had consumed sweets such as lollies, toffees, éclairs and caramels in the past four weeks. The survey was carried out between October 2010 and September 2011. Of those surveyed,... ...Read more »

German scientists claim to have developed a new way of identifying flavours and aromas in food products. Berlin-based research company, Metabolomic Discoveries, launched its ‘Flavour Profiler’ today – a platform that the company says allows the identification of taste and aroma components in food products. The company claims the platform is a big step towards being able to identify the underlying chemical basis of flavours in food. It also believes the innovation will help food and beverages... ...Read more »

Australia’s peak pork industry organisation, Australian Pork Limited, has criticised the Australian Government for failing to notify the industry of illegal pork imports from South Korea in 2010, when South Korea was in the midst of a serious outbreak of foot and mouth disease. Chief executive officer of Australian Pork Limited (APL), Andrew Spencer said the APL only found out about the illegal imports through a government report published last week by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and... ...Read more »

One of the world’s largest food companies, Nestlé, has responded to worldwide criticism by announcing an investigation into whether children are working on cocoa farms supplying its factories. Nestlé will be working with the non-profit Fair Labor Association (FLA), a multi-stakeholder initiative that works with major companies to improve working conditions in their supply chains. This is the first time a food company has partnered with the FLA. In January 2012 the FLA will send independent... ...Read more »