One of Australia’s largest poultry producers, Turi Foods, has been ordered by the Federal Court of Australia, to pay AU$100,000 penalty after admitting to a misleading claim. In September 2011, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) instituted proceedings in the Federal Court against Turi Foods, which supplies La Ionica brand meat chickens in New South Wales and Victoria. The claim was that the chickens were “free to roam”. The ACCC alleged that Turi Foods made “false or... ...Read more »

Grower groups from Queensland and elsewhere are launching a national campaign encouraging people to “eat Australian-sourced food” on Australia Day, this Thursday 26 January 2012. President of AgForce,the Queensland horticultural growers organisation, Brent Finlay, is launching the campaign with a presentation to the Deputy Prime Minister, Treasurer Wayne Swan, of a hamper of Australian produce. The Hamper is being described as a symbolic gesture of appreciation of Australian Government support... ...Read more »

The world’s largest coffee chain, Starbucks Coffee Company, announced today plans to introduce wine, beer and “premium food” to a handful of its stores in the United States by the end of 2012. Starbucks stores in Atlanta, California and Chicago, have been “carefully selected” in response to “customer feedback for more options to relax in the evenings” for the new menu additions. These stores, along with several others recently announced for the Chicago area, will be the first stores... ...Read more »

The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) today urged the Federal Government to offer “similar assistance” to Australia’s food industry as it offers the automotive industry when considering this year’s Budget. In its Budget 2012-13 Submission, the AFGC is calling on the Federal Government to get behind the food and grocery manufacturing sector in the upcoming Federal Budget process. The submission specifically calls for a Supermarket Fair Trading Code of Conduct and a Supermarket Ombudsman... ...Read more »

The European Parliament has called on member states to take urgent policies and strategic measures to halve food waste in the European Union (EU) by 2025.The call coincides with the release of figures from the European Commission, indicating  that up to 50 per cent of food is wasted in the European Union each year. According to the European Commission, 79 million EU citizens currently live below the poverty line, with 16 million depending on food benefits and aids from charitable institutions. MEPs... ...Read more »

Food production revenue for the State of South Australia in 2010-2011 increased by almost a quarter from the previous year, achieving a record AU$13.7 billion in food industry revenue. The figures have been published on the State’s annual ‘Food Scorecard’, compiled by the SA government department, Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA). The scorecard shows that food production has reached a record AU$4.36 billion compared to $3.5 billion in 2009-10 – an increase of 24 per cent. According... ...Read more »

Far-reaching reforms are being implemented to simplify the giving of certifications by the Australian Government for agricultural and food exports. According to the Federal Government’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), the reforms aim to reduce “chronic regulatory burdens” and will provide an environment that supports and enhances export market access from Australia. New industry service models for all Australian food export commodities – meat, fish, dairy, grain,... ...Read more »

An international research team has found that predator animals that are given a choice of foods will select a diet that maximises their chances of reproducing. The researchers, including Professor Stephen Simpson, an internationally renowned biologist from the University of Sydney, have shown for the first time that predatory animals choose their food on the basis of its nutritional value rather than just overall calorie content. The findings, recently published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society... ...Read more »

Victorian Health Department officials have defended themselves against criticism of the administration of food safety enforcement in the State of Victoria. Australian Food News has published several reports in the past month about failings in food safety enforcement in Victoria. Today, several Australian newspapers have provided further evidence of the Department failing to alert the public to a number of serious food poisoning outbreaks that took place during 2011. One such incident involved a sushi... ...Read more »

Queensland Government scientists and researchers from the University of Queensland have discovered new anti-microbial properties in a combination of natural-plant ingredients, including two common native Australian plums. A research team led by QAAFI food scientist Dr Yasmina Sultanbawa has discovered that when small amounts of the kakadu and Queensland Davidson plum are combined with organic acids they display new anti-microbial properties. The researchers are now looking at ways to extend the shelf-life... ...Read more »