Speaking last night to the Law Society of NSW on the first anniversary of the Australian Consumer Law (ACL), the Chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) ,  Mr Rod Sims, issued a warning to businesses. According to Mr Sims, ensuring that businesses do not engage in misleading and deceptive conduct “goes to the heart of a market economy where consumers can make more informed choices.” “Too many businesses still have a long way to go before they meet legal and public... Read more »

Action by the New South Wales Food Authority has led to the cessation today of slaughtering at an abattoir on the outskirts of Sydney. The location of the abattoir remains undisclosed by the New South Wales Food Authority. The action by the Authority followed its examination of disturbing video footage of acts of gross animal mistreatment. The video had shown the slaughter of sheep, cattle, goats and pigs that allegedly breached the Food Regulation 2010 and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act... Read more »

A study published this week by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, based in Parkville Victoria, has found a potential link between sunlight exposure and allergies. Children in southern parts of Australia with less exposure to sunlight were found to be more likely to develop food allergies and eczema than those who lived in the sunnier north of Australia. The study, which has just been published by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in the February 2012 Journal issue of Allergy... Read more »

A new study, published in the 7 February 2012 issue of the journal Respirology, has drawn a link between high soft drink consumption and increased risks of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A team of researchers led by Dr Zumin Shi, of the University of Adelaide, conducted research on consumption of soft drinks from March 2008- June 2010. The researchers used computer-assisted telephone interviewing nearly 17,000 participants aged 16 years and older in South Australia between... Read more »

A Canberra-based law academic has called for tightening of Australian regulations for eco-labelling to stop “greenwashing”. Dr Matthew Rimmer, an ARC Future Fellow and Associate Professor at the Australian National University’s College of Law, said “greenwashing” could be defined as “corporate spin which involves making misleading or deceptive claims that a company’s products or services are environmentally sustainable or friendly”. Dr Rimmer said “the problem of greenwashing requires... Read more »

The 2nd National Sustainable Food Summit, will take place in Sydney on 3-4 April, 2012, and a pre-conference on the 2 April. The summit is being promoted by Three Pillars Network, will gather over 340 delegates including primary producers and members of the business, government, education, public health, community and not-for-profit sectors came together in Melbourne to share ideas that could inform a vision for Australia’s food system in 2030. The summit will also focus on the limits and challenges... Read more »

Australian Food News recently reported criticisms of Australian government technical aid to the Indonesian cattle industry. The criticism was that the Australian government was spending Australian taxpayer funds helping potential competitors to the detriment of Australian food suppliers. The Australian government today released a new Independent Review of Aid Effectiveness framework to guide future aid budget allocations for agricultural research. Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd said that with approximately... Read more »

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 Thai sugar group Mitr Phol has acquired a controlling stake in four Australian sugar mills through the takeover of MSF Sugar. MSF Sugar was formerly known as the Maryborough Sugar Factory and is based in the far north of Queensland. Mitr Phol’s acquisition price for its controlling shareholding stake was more than AU$300 Million. Australian Food News reported in January 2012 that MSF sugar had accepted a $4.45 per share takeover offer by Mitr Phol. According to its latest takeover bid notification... Read more »

Foodbank Victoria is to launch an innovative food donation activity in conjunction with the upcoming Melbourne Food and Wine Festival at the beginning of March. The activity encourages donations of food cans by members of the public to Foodbank for the hungry and impoverished in Victoria. How and where the activity takes place An outlined map of Victoria will be painted on the grass from the parkland between King Street and Clarendon Street, over the river from the Crown Casino. The map will show... Read more »