A new study published in the Dietitians Association of Australia’s journal, Nutrition & Dietetics, has found that more than 40 per cent of community-living older Australians are either “malnourished or at risk of malnutrition”. The Melbourne-based study has prompted calls from dietitians for routine nutrition screening and targeted nutrition programs to address malnutrition. Over a three-month study period, community nurses in Victoria assessed 235 clients aged 65 years and older... ...Read more »

On 26 April 2012, as reported in Australian Food News, KFC Australia indicated it would appeal a judgment made by Justice Stephen Rothman in the NSW Supreme Court which found KFC to be responsible for causing the salmonella poisoning of a young girl in Sydney in 2005. Following a four week trial in the NSW Supreme Court in 2010, Justice Stephen Rothman had found in favour of the victim, Monika Samaan, who was paralysed and brain damaged after eating a KFC product. Having judged KFC to be liable,... ...Read more »

The world’s largest coffee chain, Starbucks Corporation, has announced a “record” increase in net income by 18 per cent for its second quarter in the 2011/12 financial year. Starbucks reported total net revenues rose 15 per cent to US$3.2 billion for the 13-week period ended 1 April 2012. Excluding the impact of new store openings, the coffee chain’s sales increased seven per cent, driven by a significant increase in traffic. This marks Starbucks’ seventh consecutive... ...Read more »

Australia’s non-dairy milk segment is set to receive a shake-up this week when a new brand of almond milk ‘Almond Breeze’ hits the shelves in over 700 Coles supermarkets across the country. According the American food company behind the brand, Blue Diamond, the product’s launch in Australia follows “significant” success in the United States. Roger Ringwood, Country Director for Almond Breeze said, “The many Australian consumers who were interested in the product and... ...Read more »

Australian supermarket chain Coles has been fined AU$170,000 and ordered to pay legal costs after a worker fell through a ceiling at their Manly store in 2007 and received injuries. On 29 August 2007 the worker is reported to have climbed over a handrail to access promotional material being stored on a suspended plasterboard ceiling. The plasterboard collapsed and she fell more than two metres to the floor below. The employee was taken to hospital and treated for lacerations to her head, whiplash... ...Read more »

A major research program aimed at protecting Australia’s AU$450 million banana industry has been launched by a team of scientists, led by the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI). For the next five years, QAAFI’s principal research scientist, Associate Professor André Drenth of The University of Queensland, will spearhead the AU$6 million ‘Banana Plant Protection Program’. Currently, Australia’s banana industry faces two main risks to plant... ...Read more »

Food businesses that have been using unlicensed pest controllers should take warning after a Lysterfield man was prosecuted and fined $19,000.00 in the Ringwood Magistrates Court (near Melbourne) for six breaches of Victoria’s pest control laws. The Victorian Department of Health has issued a statement emphasizing the risks of using unlicensed personnel. Victoria’s acting Chief Health Officer, Dr Michael Ackland, said the successful prosecution reinforces the importance of licensing and training... ...Read more »

Australia’s food regulatory agency Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has issued the results of its survey on usage of sulphites in sausages, cordial and dried fruit. However, one of Australia’s leading food law experts has criticized the FSANZ findings. FSANZ Chief Executive Officer Steve McCutcheon said the latest survey built on previous surveys of sulphites undertaken by food regulators in Australia and “would help inform work on a proposal looking at the use of sulphites”. “The... ...Read more »

Scientists atAustralia’s most respected scientific body, CSIRO, hope to increase the levels of resistant starch in commonly consumed grains inAustralialike wheat in order to lower incidence rates of bowel cancer inAustralia.  The CSIRO project is based on recent research showing that not all fibre is equally effective health-wise. This finding was reported by Australian Food News in February 2012, there are different types of fibre in foods.  Western diets are typically low in fibre and have... ...Read more »

Wesfarmers, the publicly-listed parent company that owns the Coles supermarket chain, has announced the supermarket’s 15th consecutive quarter of comparable sales growth.  The company announced its third quarter retail sales results this week for the period ending 31 March 2012.  Wesfarmers’ Managing Director, Richard Goyder, said he was pleased with the sales results especially given the relatively tough retail environment.  Coles’ performance appears to be stronger than rival... ...Read more »