Author of one of Australia’s best-selling cookbooks, 4 Ingredients, Kim McCosker, has unveiled a range of Australian mandarin recipes to celebrate the start of the Australian mandarin season. The recipes, which have been released in collaboration with citrus growers’ representative body, Citrus Australia, include entrees, main meals, desserts and children’s dishes. “Aussie mandarins are a wonderful snack as well as a fantastic cooking ingredient, that will instantly add a deliciously sweet... ...Read more »

Despite an increase in food prices worldwide, fresh foods remain an important part of the weekly shop globally, according to research published earlier this month by global market researcher Nielsen. The Nielsen Global Survey of Fresh Foods, which surveyed more than 29,000 respondents in 58 countries, found that consumers globally now spend between 30 and 60 per cent of their total food, grocery and personal care funds on fresh foods. The research found that consumers globally shop for fresh foods... ...Read more »

Bakery franchise Michel’s Patisserie says winning the title Australian ‘Coffee Shop of the Year’ for the second year running recognises the hard work of its franchisees and team members. The Michel’s Patisserie franchise network is owned and managed by ASX-listed Retail Food Group (RFG), Australia’s largest multi-food franchisor. RFG also owns Donut King, Brumby’s Bakeries, bb’s Café, Esquires and Pizza Capers. The award is part of the Roy Morgan Research Customer Satisfaction Awards,... ...Read more »

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has issued a final decision allowing broiler chicken growers, who are members of Queensland Chicken Growers Association, to collectively bargain with Inghams, Baiada and Golden Cockerel for ten years. The decision will allow employees of Inghams, Baiada and Golden Cockerel to negotiate working conditions with employers in the chicken meat industry. Collective bargaining arrangements can lead to transaction cost savings and provide broiler chicken... ...Read more »

Kraft Foods Australia has launched a new specially formulated peanut butter with No Added Sugar or Salt, in a new campaign that declares today “National Peanut Butter Day.” Created with health conscious consumers in mind, Kraft Foods No Added Sugar or Salt Peanut Butter is made up of 91 per cent lightly roasted peanuts. It contains high quality hi oleic peanuts, which Kraft Foods claim have a fatty acid combination similar to olive oil, with more of the “good fats, essential to a balanced diet.” Kraft... ...Read more »

Australia’s Woolworths supermarket chain has announced its commitment to have all the wild-caught fish it sells certified by the Marine Stewardship Council by 2015. Sydney’s famous Taronga Park Zoo has teamed up with Woolworths to launch a new program which aims to improve marine conservation in Australia. A spokesperson for Woolworths said that 100 per cent of Select canned tuna, which is 1.2million kg of tuna, will be ‘pole and line’ caught by the end of 2013, substantially reducing the... ...Read more »

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS), has published its draft re-evaluation of aspartame. Aspartame is used as an artificial sweetener to replace sugar in foods and drinks and although currently regarded as safe, when used to the permitted limits, has been widely discussed by Australian and international food authorities. The Panel’s draft re-evaluation report says that the current Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of 40 mg/kg bw/day... ...Read more »

Data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) on the December 2012 Consumer Price Index (CPI) shows a price fall of 5.7% for vegetables during the latest quarter. The price fall coincides with substantial harvests of fruit and vegetables that followed strong rainfalls during the prime growing season around most of Australia. The high Australian dollar also resulted in loss of some export markets resulting in downward price pressures on local growers through over-supply in the Australian... ...Read more »

A recent report by an international research house reveals a significant difference in attitude between younger and older UK consumers when it comes to presumptions about “lighter weight” packaging. The study found most UK consumers are open to the idea of buying lighter weight packaging, with only 1 in 10 consumers actively “avoiding” it. The research, by Canadean Consumer, reveals lighter weight packaging is more appealing to older consumers for environmental benefits. In comparison, younger... ...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 »