The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) has launched a new ‘Future of Packaging’ White Paper, which aims to support a more strategic and proactive role for the food industry in packaging sustainability. The AFGC developed the white paper in consultation with stakeholders including government, retailers, packaging manufacturers, recyclers and consumers, to drive more strategic and tangible action on packaging sustainability. The White Paper identifies actions that will be taken... ...Read more »

A new report published by the Grains & Legumes Nutrition Council has blamed the simplification of complex nutritional messages for grain foods like bread and pasta becoming the ‘scapegoat’ for weight gain and bloating. The report, ‘What’s to Gain from Grains?’, was developed by the Grains & Legumes Nutrition Council. Authorities in the field of nutrition including Professor Manny Noakes, Dr Jane Muir and Dr David Topping joined the Grains & Legumes Nutrition Council... ...Read more »

Applications are being sought for four independent directors to be appointed to the Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) Board at this year’s Annual General Meeting. MLA is a producer-owned company working in partnership with industry and government to achieve a profitable and sustainable red meat and livestock industry in Australia. MLA provides marketing and research and development services to over 47,000 cattle, sheep and goat producer members and the broader red meat industry. MLA said the... ...Read more »

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has agreed to allow Viterra more time to work with industry to improve the proposed auction system for port terminal services in South Australia for the export of bulk wheat. The original timeframe of May 2012 to introduce an auction system will be extended to November 2012. Viterra, the port terminal operator, is required by the undertaking to introduce an auction system in South Australia. Viterra has applied for more time to develop an... ...Read more »

Australian supermarket chain Woolworths has recalled batches of its Macro Wholefoods chocolate products because they contain milk without the required declaration on the product label. The products in question were sold in Woolworths, Safeway, Flemings, and Food for Less supermarkets in NSW and interstate. The recalled products and batches are: - Macro Wholefoods Market Dark Chocolate Santas, 80g, 6 individual Santa shaped lactose free chocolates, all ‘best before’ dates sold between... ...Read more »

Australian supermarket chain Coles has announced that, as of May 2012, all of its private label frozen vegetable products will be sourced from Australian farmers and packed by the Australian based food processing Simplot factories. Coles merchandise director John Durkan said the move makes Coles’ private label range Australia’s only supermarket private label to offer 100 per cent Australian-grown frozen vegetables. According to Mr Durkan, total sales of frozen vegetables at Coles is nearly... ...Read more »

Australian diary giant Murray Goulburn has announced plans to open regional offices in Singapore and Vietnam. The Cooperative says the move will grow its market presence across Asia and improve shareholder returns. Murray Goulburn is the largest processor of milk in Australia and the nation’s largest exporter of processed food. Its international business accounts for approximately 9 per cent of world dairy trade. In a letter to shareholders this week, Murray Goulburn’s Managing Director Gary... ...Read more »

Australia’s beef industry will see massive export market opportunities in Asia over the next 20 years and the biggest challenge for Australian producers will be to match genetic selection with consumer demands, according to Meat & Livestock Australia. Meat & Livestock Australia’s general manager for international markets and economic services,  Dr Peter Barnard, believes there will be “mind boggling” growth in Asian markets due to continued population and economic growth. Speaking... ...Read more »

A proposal to extend country of origin labelling to unpackaged beef, sheep and chicken meat in Australia by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has received support by the Australian Made, Australian Grown Campaign (AMAG). AMAG is a not-for-profit public foundation created by the Australian Chamber of Commerce, industry and various Australian business chambers. AMAG has been campaigning for tougher food labelling laws. The group’s Chief Executive, Ian Harrison, said the proposed alteration... ...Read more »

An Australian school-based obesity prevention program for adolescent girls has failed to reduce body mass index (BMI) in the participants, according to a report published by Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. Researchers at the University of Newcastle, Australia, examined the effects of a 12-month group trial designed to prevent unhealthy weight gain in adolescent girls living in low-income communities. The study was funded by a grant from the Australian Research Council. The study... ...Read more »