Harvey Fresh, a leading manufacturer in Western Australia of dairy products, fruit juices and wine, has announced its acquisition of juice processor Nugan Quality Foods. Harvey Fresh says the move will allow it to capitalize on a “booming export market” for fruit and vegetable juices from Australia into South-East Asia. The acquisition also comes at a time when Harvey Fresh is extending its profile in the fresh fruit juice sector, despite competing against imports from South American and New... ...Read more »

The organisation representing Coeliac Disease sufferers in Australia is advocating the Australian government revise the “Gluten Free” standard in Australia. The organisation Coeliac Australia had approached both Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) and the Australian Competition Consumer Commission (ACCC) with the aim of altering the “Gluten Free” standard to “less than 20ppm”. The organisation made a similar submission to the body developing Australia’s national food plan. In... ...Read more »

The cider market has been growing rapidly in Australia, and Australia’s major consumer advocacy group has now undertaken further research on this. In recent taste-test research conducted by CHOICE, Australia’s leading consumer group, CHOICE found the three top-ranked ciders to be a low alcohol French cider, Boulard Cidre de Normandie Doux, British Aspall Draught Suffolk Cider and Australian Mercury Dry Cider. CHOICE reviewed all of the popular ciders consumed in Australia including cider beverages... ...Read more »

In announcing its second quarter retail sales results for the 2012 financial year today, Wesfarmers has expressed pleasure with the continuing strong growth of its subsidiary Coles. Coles is one of Australia’s two major supermarket groups. Coles’ first half-year’s sales this financial year were $13.6 billion, a 4.9 percent increase on the previous year. Wesfarmers’ managing director, David Goyder said, “Given a relatively tough retail environment and widespread deflation, I am pleased... ...Read more »

A recent national survey conducted by the Australian Food Safety Information Council has shown 8 percent of adult workers and an alarming 20 percent of children who take a packed lunch to work or school, make no attempt to keep their lunches cool. Council Chairman, Dr Michael Eyles says, “food poisoning bacteria can grow quickly during hot weather and in the healthier foods such as salad and cold meat that we pack for lunch these days.” The national survey concluded that while 79 percent of Australians... ...Read more »

Grower groups from Queensland and elsewhere are launching a national campaign encouraging people to “eat Australian-sourced food” on Australia Day, this Thursday 26 January 2012. President of AgForce,the Queensland horticultural growers organisation, Brent Finlay, is launching the campaign with a presentation to the Deputy Prime Minister, Treasurer Wayne Swan, of a hamper of Australian produce. The Hamper is being described as a symbolic gesture of appreciation of Australian Government support... ...Read more »

The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) has announced today that its Chief Executive, Kate Carnell, is to leave the industry group at the end of March 2012. Ms Carnell has accepted the position of CEO at Beyond Blue, an Australian non-profit organisation which aims to increase awareness and improve the treatment of depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders and related mental disorders. Prior to Ms Carnell’s departure at the end of March, the AFGC Board will be evaluating potential... ...Read more »

McDonald’s has appointed Mark Lollback, formerly chief marketing officer for ANZ Bank, as its new marketing chief. McDonald’s has announced the appointment of Mark Lollback as Chief Marketing Officer to lead its newly united Australian and New Zealand extended marketing teams. Mr Lollback will be responsible for the strategy and execution of this new structure and will oversee McDonald’s marketing for Australia and New Zealand in consumer and business insights and menu innovation. He will... ...Read more »

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) today announced that oranges and orange juice sold in Australia will not be permitted to contain any carbendazim, after it was announced that existing permissions would be revoked in the first quarter of 2012. The moves follows concerns raised after the US Food and Drug Administration detected trace amounts of carbendazim in orange juice imported from Brazil. Carbendazim is a fungicide used in many countries to control fungal diseases. The Australian... ...Read more »

Almost one-third of adults over the age of 25 have a Vitamin D deficiency, a new study from the University of Melbourne has found. The study involved 11,218 Australians. The overall prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 31 per cent, with Australian women being more commonly affected (39 per cent, in contrast with 23 per cent in Australian men, overall). University of Melbourne’s Professor of Medicine, and study author, Professor Peter Ebeling say the findings show that government-supported... ...Read more »