The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) has responded to claims that Australian processed foods for children contain ‘unacceptably high’ levels of salt. The claims were made this week in research published by Australian consumer group CHOICE, which was based on research by the George Institute for Global Health. ‘World Salt Awareness Week’, which runs from 11 March 2013 to 17 March 2013, has triggered fierce debate in Australia about ‘hidden salt’ in food. The average Australian... ...Read more »

The European Commission (EC) has decided to ask the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to assess the safety of caffeine. In particular the EC wants to know what the safe maximum level of caffeine intake from all sources is; how risky interaction between caffeine, alcohol and other ‘energy drink’ ingredients might be; and what levels of consumption are safe for different groups of people, including pregnant women, lactating women, children and adolescents. The EC has decided to delay any authorisation... ...Read more »

Australia’s leading consumer group CHOICE has launched a new campaign to stamp out “frustrating” packaging that requires potentially dangerous objects to open or is “too difficult” for the consumer. As part of the “Pack Attack” campaign, CHOICE has called on consumers to send photos and descriptions of “bad packaging” or “dangerous packaging” in to the group who will take the examples to the Australian Packaging Covenant. According to CHOICE, some of the worst offenders for... ...Read more »

Australian consumer group CHOICE has called for clearer labelling on beef products sold in supermarkets and at restaurants, following new research that 91 per cent of consumers “do not have enough information” about the “ethical production of food products” in Australia. CHOICE has called for consumers to be better informed about the terms “grass-fed”, “grain-fed,” biodynamic beef,” “free-range beef” and “hormone-free beef” when choosing a steak. CHOICE Food Policy Advisor... ...Read more »

Following the gazettal of new Country of Origin labelling requirements for unpackaged meat this month and the October 2012 launch of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) guide to interpreting country-of-origin claims, consumer group CHOICE has proposed further reforms “to simplify origin claims”. Angela McDougall, CHOICE’s food policy advisor, claims that the current origin labelling provisions are still “confusing with a proliferation of vague and muddy claims”. Under... ...Read more »

While it is commonly known that fruit and vegetables are a healthy option for a snack, new CHOICE research has found that consuming these in beverage form can often contain “larger serving sizes than the average plate of food.” CHOICE analysed 95 popular Australian brands of smoothies and frappes recently and found that many had “added sugar” and “fruit concentrate” which ruled them out as a healthy option. Of the smoothies and frappes reviewed by CHOICE, 81 of 95 beverages were deemed... ...Read more »

Woolworths has launched a competition to find the next great Aussie snag in the lead up to Australia Day, inviting customers to vote online for their ‘ultimate sausage.’ The winner will have their sausage produced and available for a limited time in Woolworths supermarkets in their State later in 2013.  They will also receive the ‘Ultimate BBQ’ for them and 24 friends which will include an appearance by Sam Kekovich, with food, drink and entertainment in their own backyard. Entrants, via... ...Read more »

Australia’s leading consumer group CHOICE has recently published a review of “enhanced” water products on the Australian market, pointing out that many Australian consumers would be better served drinking ordinary water from the tap. Over the years Australian supermarkets have seen an abundance of water products with added PH, extra oxygen or magnetic properties. CHOICE has compared the following water products on the Australian market place and their promoted  benefits. A link to the full... ...Read more »

Australia’s leading consumer group CHOICE has put caffeine to the test across a range of products, finding that product labels do not give consumers “the full picture.” The CHOICE findings come at a time when governments have been considering new policy towards regulation of caffeinated beverages. The findings also suggest that energy drinks are not necessarily the main source of caffeine intake in all age groups. CHOICE compared a range of products in which caffeine is present including many... ...Read more »

Consumer watchdog CHOICE has put 14 popular Christmas puddings to the test, finding that the cheaper puddings performed the worst in taste and quality. The team of experts included Fine Food Show judges and professional cooks that analysed puddings between $0.71 – $5.50/100 grams. In the blind taste test, the experts looked for good shape, weight, balanced fruit, spice and alcohol flavours, even distribution of good-quality fruit ingredients and puddings that held their shape when cut. CHOICE... ...Read more »