Butchers and bakers are the latest target of a campaign to stamp out exploitation of workers in South Australia.The Federal Workplace Ombudsman has written to almost 500 businesses alerting them to a crackdown on the food services industry. Up to 100 employers will be randomly selected for audit by workplace inspectors to ensure staff are being properly paid. Executive Director Michael Campbell said the decision to closely scrutinise butchers and bakers follows an increase in complaints. “One... ...Read more »

American consumers have trimmed their consumption of beef, veal and turkey since 1996; while the $66 billion beef sector still rules the roost, chicken was increasingly what’s for dinnerin 2008. Chicken sales winged up 6.7% in 2008, three times the overall growth rate for retail and foodservice meat, according to The Fresh Meat Market in the U.S.: Beef, Chicken, Pork, Turkey and Lamb in Retail and Foodservice, a new research report just released by Packaged Facts. Chicken was also good for... ...Read more »

Two Western Sydney butchers have copped fines totalling more than $15,500 for attempting to rip off consumers by disguising sub-standard meat, Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald said today.The NSW Food Authority has won prosecutions against the two butchers totalling nine breaches for illegally “dosing” meat with the preservative sulphur dioxide (SO2). “This chemical is used to mask old or poor quality meat to make it look redder and more appealing to consumers, but the practice... ...Read more »

The Workplace Ombudsman has today released a new list of businesses it will target in the lead-up to Christmas to ensure workers are properly paid.The workplace watchdog’s latest “hit-list” includes bakeries, butchers, dairy producers, coffee shops and take-away food outlets. Also in the sights of inspectors will be grocers, smallgoods stores and both retail and wholesale suppliers of poultry and seafood. Federal Workplace Ombudsman Nicholas Wilson advised that the national food... ...Read more »

The retail industry has been bruised by sagging consumer sentiment and increased costs and, while this has heralded a 6-year low in quarterly retail turnover, the implications on food have so far been mixed – according to new research by Freshlogic. Martin Kneebone, a director of consultancy firm Freshlogic, says that slimming household budgets are prompting a noticeable move toward cheaper meal options. The eating-out food market may lose as much as $3b in annual consumer spending, part of... ...Read more »