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 cider market has been growing rapidly in Australia, and Australia’s major consumer advocacy group has now undertaken further research on this. In recent taste-test research conducted by CHOICE, Australia’s leading consumer group, CHOICE found the three top-ranked ciders to be a low alcohol French cider, Boulard Cidre de Normandie Doux, British Aspall Draught Suffolk Cider and Australian Mercury Dry Cider. CHOICE reviewed all of the popular ciders consumed in Australia including cider beverages... ...Read more »

Australian and New Zealand ministers today put nutrition and preventative health at the heart of a plan to reform laws on packaged food and drink product labelling in Australia. Ministers met in Melbourne today to consider their response to the recommendations in the Food Labelling Review Report, Labelling Logic (also known as the Blewett report). This was the first meeting of the Legislative and Governance Forum on Food Regulation (Forum). The Forum on Food Regulation replaces the Australia and... ...Read more »

The Federal Government has announced today that it does not support the Traffic Light labelling system previously recommended by the Blewett Report. However, it does support the report’s recommendation on palm oil labelling in Australia. The Federal Government’s position was released today, ahead of the 9 December meeting of food and health ministers comprising the Australian New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council. Front-of-pack labelling Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon... ...Read more »

Differences in recommended serving sizes on like-for-like Australian food products are making it “near impossible” for shoppers to compare the nutritional content of the products, according to new research by Sydney-based medical research body, The George Institute. The George Institute’s study contained in its ‘Examination of serving sizes of selected food products in Australia’ report, published today, was commissioned by Australian consumer advocacy group CHOICE. The George Institute’s... ...Read more »

Australian parents’ activist group the Parent’s Jury has slammed two major food companies, Kelloggs and McDonalds, claiming that their marketing campaigns in Australia are misleading. Both companies featured in the Parents’ Jury’s ‘Fame and Shame Awards 2011’. McDonald’s use of Australian cricket hero Shane Warne to endorse its Chicken McBites came under fire for “using sport to promote unhealthy food which influences children”. Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain cereal, which the... ...Read more »

Australian public health organisations have co-signed a letter from consumer advocacy group CHOICE, urging Federal Government to adopt the Traffic Light front-of-pack food labelling scheme. Signatories to the letter, sent to the Australian Government’s Ministerial Council responsible for labelling law and policy, include Public Health Association of Australia, Australian Medical Association, Diabetes Australia, Cancer Council Australia, Obesity Policy Coalition, The Australian New Zealand Obesity... ...Read more »

The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) has reacted to consumer advocacy group CHOICE’s criticisms of “low-fat” claims on foods. AFGC Chief Executive Kate Carnell said, “If misleading claims are being made, industry would urge the regulators to enforce consumer protection laws. It is also important to remember there are people who need low-fat but not low-kilojoule diets, for example people with high cholesterol.” Responding to CHOICE’s argument that nutrient profiling is in place... ...Read more »

Australian consumer advocacy group CHOICE, today warned that many ready-to-eat desserts with low-fat claims such as ‘fat free’, ‘reduced fat’ and ’97 per cent fat free’ are not always as healthy as their labels suggest. CHOICE reviewed 31 low-fat desserts found in the fridge and freezer section of Australian supermarkets. According to CHOICE, the review has proven that many so-called ‘low-fat’ products contain high sugar and sodium levels. CHOICE spokesperson, Ingrid Just said, “Low-fat... ...Read more »

Despite recently presenting a united voice for advocacy of a supermarket ombudsman in Australia, the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) and Australian consumer advocacy group CHOICE have disagreed publicly on food labelling. The AFGC has accused CHOICE of publishing recipes on its website that fall short of health standards espoused by the Traffic Light Labelling system, which CHOICE has championed. According to the AFGC, a number of recipes on CHOICE’s website are ‘unhealthy’ when... ...Read more »