Australian Food News recently reported that the total value of food and liquor retailing in Australia grew by 4.2 per cent in 2011-12, to $135.8 billion, according to ‘Australian Food Statistics’, a yearly report compiled by the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) from data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). But the report found that a more detailed analysis of the data showed a more complex picture than what was suggested by the overall figures. Food... ...Read more »

New US research from the University of North Carolina has found that 75 per cent of formulated foods contain sweeteners, raising health concerns with the study authors. The study published in the recent addition of The Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics analysed 85,451 formulated foods, finding that 68 per cent use caloric sweeteners. A further 1 per cent used non-caloric sweeteners, and six per cent used both caloric and non-caloric sweeteners. Researchers found that caloric sweeteners... ...Read more »

Goodman Fielder, one of Australia’s largest and most diverse food manufacturers with well known brand names such as Helga’s, White Wings, Praise, Crisco, Meadow Lea and Meadow Fresh in its stable of brands, has reported a loss of $147.9 million. Nevertheless its results represents an 11.9 per cent improvement, or almost $20 million, from last year’s figures. The results, appearing in the annual report of the company just released, indicate that normalised profit, which takes out one-off financial... ...Read more »

An investigation by a leading consumer group into supermarket cakes has discovered some contain more than 20 additives, including those used to prolong shelf life or cover up cheaper ingredients. Of the almost 100 cakes tested by Choice, Woolworths Bakehouse Sponge Iced and Fresh-Filled Cream cake was the worst offender with 27 additives. Top Taste Rollettes Choc and Woolworths Bakehouse Sponge Single Birthday Fresh Cream were a close second with 26 additives each. “Most people wouldn’t... ...Read more »