Batches of imported tapioca chips sold in speciality Indian grocery stores have been recalled due to high levels of naturally occurring cyanide in the ingredient cassava. The batches of ‘Grandma’s Tapioca Chips’ and ‘Manjilas Tapioca Chips Spicy’, imported by Resmi International Pty Ltd, have been available from Indian grocery stores in New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, Western Australia, and Queensland. The New South Wales Food Authority (NSWFA) has advised consumers... ...Read more »

Australian and New Zealand ministers today put nutrition and preventative health at the heart of a plan to reform laws on packaged food and drink product labelling in Australia. Ministers met in Melbourne today to consider their response to the recommendations in the Food Labelling Review Report, Labelling Logic (also known as the Blewett report). This was the first meeting of the Legislative and Governance Forum on Food Regulation (Forum). The Forum on Food Regulation replaces the Australia and... ...Read more »

After seven reviews of Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in less than 18 months, the Federal Government today announced “comprehensive reforms” for Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), the Federal agency for the therapeutic products industry. Releasing ‘TGA reforms: A blueprint for TGA’s future’ today, The Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing, Catherine King, admitted the TGA regulatory system had given rise to concerns from consumers, health... ...Read more »

The head of SABMiller’s Asian operations, Mr Ari Mervis, is to take the helm of SABMiller’s recently acquired Foster’s operations in Australia. SABMiller’s acquisition of Foster’s is due to become effective on settlement on 16 December 2011. As Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr Mervis will be responsible for the integration of Foster’s into the SABMiller group. Mr Mervis has been Managing Director of SABMiller’s Asia business since October 2007 and was the sponsor of the Foster’s... ...Read more »

Australian specialty cheese manufacturer, Jindi, has beaten international competition to win two gold medals at this year’s Guild of Fine Food World Cheese Awards held in Birmingham, United Kingdom. The competition featured nearly 2,500 entries sampled by 200 expert judges from 34 countries, including Australia. Out of four entered, two Jindi cheeses won awards. Jindi’s washed rind ‘Fire Engine Red’ cheese won gold in the ‘Pont L’Eveque, Livarot’ category, while its ‘Heritage Blue’... ...Read more »

Australia’s two leading supermarket chains, Coles and Woolworths, are rolling out a new card payment system which does not require a signature or a PIN number from the customer. The system will comprise new Visa ‘payWave’ cards and upgraded payment terminals equipped with Ingenico pin pads. The cards have an embedded antenna and microchip, enabling a contactless communication with the pinpad at the checkout. The cards will be used for credit or debit card purchases up to A$100. Coles’ Finance... ...Read more »

Public relations agency Weber Shandwick’s inaugural ‘Food Forward 2012’ food trend report has identified four big trends which it predicts will shape Australia’s food culture in 2012. Weber Shandwick commissioned Australian research company, Pure Profile, to undertake the survey of more than 1,000 consumers and food industry professionals including food editors, chefs, food bloggers and nutritionists. The report, published today, revealed trend clusters – commonalities between individual... ...Read more »

Researchers from the State of Victoria’s Department of Primary Industries (DPI) have discovered an eco-friendly way to use the by-products of winemaking to improve the quality and quantity of milk production. Scientists at the DPI’s Centre for Dairy Excellence, at Ellinbank, found that supplementing the cows’ feed with the stems, seeds and skins from wine grapes reduced their emissions by 20 per cent, increased milk production by five per cent and increased the healthy fatty acids in their... ...Read more »

The Australian Capital Territory today introduced a Bill into the Legislative Assembly that will allow the names of food businesses in the Territory convicted of an offence against the Food Act to be placed on a publicly available register. The Food Amendment Bill 2011 proposes an amendment also requires businesses in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) to display their current registration certificates to have suitably trained food safety supervisors at premises. Additionally, closure notices... ...Read more »

A Canberra food business has been linked to an outbreak of Salmonella, which has so far resulted in five people being hospitalised. The ACT Government’s Health Directorate is currently investigating the outbreak. So far 13 people have been diagnosed with Salmonella, all of whom reported purchasing ready-to-eat food from the implicated business on 25 of 26 November 2011. ACT Chief Health Officer, Dr Paul Kelly said today, “Salmonella has been identified in mayonnaise containing raw egg, with further... ...Read more »