Data just published by an international research body, Innova Market Insights, suggests that despite financial constraints consumer interest in making ethical food choices continues to increase. Innova Market Insights’ research found that products positioned on an ethical platform accounted for over 7 per cent of total global food and drinks launches recorded in the 12 months to the end of October 2011. This is up from 6.5 per cent since the same time in the previous year. According to the research,... ...Read more »

South Africa’s Pioneer Foods has taken disciplinary action against 41 employees involved in the price-fixing scandals that have recently engulfed the company.An external, independent presiding officer looked into the matter and 38 employees admitted guilt and received written warnings. One was found not guilty and two cases are still being processed. Besides the written warnings, executive management did not receive any incentive bonuses, while the company’s executive directors did not... ...Read more »

The Food Regulation Ministerial Council will receive the Blewett report on national Food Labelling Law and Policy in Adelaide today but will not release it. Gene Ethics has called for immediate publication and says a delay of many months is unacceptable.”The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) has no right to keep citizens waiting any longer for stronger food labelling laws,” says Bob Phelps, Gene Ethics’ Director. “Governments must release the Blewett report to the community... ...Read more »

Campbell Soup Company today announced four sustainability and corporate citizenship goals, including goals to reduce childhood obesity and water consumption. The company described these and other plans in its 2010 corporate social responsibility report. The report, Nourishing: Consumers Neighbors Employees Planet, describes Campbell’s strategies, policies and programs that will help drive the company toward four comprehensive goals by 2020. “For Campbell, conducting business in a socially... ...Read more »

World Vision has taken the decision to pause campaigning activities aimed at Arnott’s for a 6 month period in response to the company publicly committing to address potential labour exploitation in its West African supply chain. World Vision’s Don’t Trade Lives campaign activities prompted a meeting between World Vision and Arnott’s executives on 29 March 2010, following which Arnott’s issued the public statement. World Vision is encouraged by Arnott’s acknowledgement... ...Read more »

Campbell Soup Company, General Mills, PepsiCo and Solae have been recognized by Ethisphere Institute as the World’s Most Ethical Food and Beverage Companies for 2010.This is the fourth year Ethisphere, a think-tank dedicated to the creation, advancement and sharing of best practices in business ethics, corporate social responsibility, anti-corruption and sustainability, has published the World’s Most Ethical Companies rankings, which appear in Ethisphere Magazine’s Q1 issue.The... ...Read more »

 Explosive new film, titled “The Coca-Cola Case” debuted in the U.S. on Friday. The film  documents the work of Ray Rogers, the long-time labour organiser behind the Campaign to Stop Killer Coke, a New-York based group that has been putting pressure on the Coca-Cola Co. to take responsibility for the horrific violence taking place at their Colombian bottling plants. The film claims that Coca-Cola has been collaborating with violent paramilitary organizations in Colombia and other countries... ...Read more »

The Checkout Fairtrade search has discovered Australia’s Most Fairtrade Friendly Supermarkets, with Victorian independent supermarket Leo’s Fine Food & Wine in Kew and Coles Belmont in New South Wales claiming the top honours, the Fair Trade Association of Australia and New Zealand (FTAANZ) announced today. Checkout Fairtrade aimed to find the supermarket store stocking the biggest range of Fairtrade Certified and Labelled products in the country. FTAANZ Operations Manager Cameron... ...Read more »

Fair Trade Fortnight, Australia’s biggest annual celebration of all things fair trade, has begun, with a search for Australia’s Most Fairtrade Friendly Supermarket. Fair Trade Association of Australia and New Zealand (FTAANZ) Operations Manager Cameron Neil said the Award would be given to the Australian supermarket store found to be stocking the biggest range of Fairtrade Labelled products in the country. “The more Fairtrade Labelled products supermarkets stock, the more opportunities... ...Read more »

Australian sales of Fairtrade Certified and Labelled products has grown strongly for the fifth consecutive year with 2008 retail figures up by 80 per cent, Fairtrade Labelling Australia & New Zealand (FLANZ) has announced. FLANZ Operations Manager Cameron Neil said total retail sales of Fairtrade Certified and Labelled products exceeded $23 million in 2008 reflecting the expanding Australian market for such products and increased support from business. “Across the country, consumers and... ...Read more »