TNS Worldpanel, global market leader in consumer purchasing information, today announced that although China’s dairy market was hit by sales spiralling downwards, there are many winners emerging from the melamine scandal. The criminal contamination of milk products in China led to the tragic deaths of four babies as well as causing over 54,000 infants to fall ill and has seen food standards bodies worldwide test and assess the safety of dairy products from China. For international dairy brands,... ...Read more »

An Auburn business fined for allowing live vermin in a food storage area is one of a further 23 businesses to have made it onto the Food Authority’s pioneering name and shame website this week, Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald said today. “From today, the website shows the details of 253 food businesses in NSW that have received fines for 401 violations of food safety laws,” Mr Macdonald reported. “In the four months since the site was launched, the Authority is publishing... ...Read more »

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) Egg Group has been working closely with the Department of Human Services (DHS) and Department of Primary Industries (DPI) on their State-wide campaign to educate consumers and the food industry about egg care as part of National Food Safety Week. President of the VFF Egg Group Brian Ahmed said over the past 12 months the group had been in consultation with the Departments to develop a leaflet that will give consumers, the food service industry and retailers... ...Read more »

The buying habits of consumers change dramatically and cost companies millions when product safety and quality issues arise, according to a new study released by Deloitte. More than half of American consumers responding (58 per cent) who heard about product safety and/or quality problems altered their buying habits, according to the survey. These consumers turned away from such products for more than nine months, on average, increasing the likelihood that they would discontinue the use of the product... ...Read more »

Further laboratory of a faeces sample provided from the much-publicised ice-cream incident at the Coogee Bay Hotel in Sydney have proved inconclusive as to its origin, Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald said. “Tests by the NSW Food Authority have been unable to determine the origin of the faecal sample because of insufficient good quality DNA material in the sample,” he advised. “An earlier test showed that it was faecal matter, but was unable to determine if it came from... ...Read more »

PakSense, Inc., an innovator in sensory solutions for packaging, announced at the recent Produce Marketing Association’s annual Fresh Summit convention that it will release a wireless version of its award-winning temperature monitoring label in December. The PakSense Ultra Wireless Label will enable users to wirelessly download time and temperature information and analyze data before unloading a perishable product from a container. PakSense Ultra Wireless Labels are activated and applied to... ...Read more »

The issue of food safety has reared its head again following the much-publicised finding of faeces in a dessert at a Sydney hotel. The food sample supplied by the family involved in the Coogee Bay Hotel ice cream complaint has tested positive for faecal matter, NSW Primary Industries Minister, Ian Macdonald, said yesterday. Minister Macdonald said preliminary laboratory test results carried out by the NSW Food Authority saw the sample test positive for bilirubin. “Further DNA analysis by the... ...Read more »

The NSW Government is investigating allegations of breaches of food safety at a Sydney hotel, Minister for Primary Industries Ian Macdonald said today.The NSW Food Authority has now received an official complaint about the alleged incident at the Coogee Bay Hotel on October 5, in which it has been suggested that a family was served ice cream laced with human faeces. “This is an issue of public importance and it is essential we speak to as many parties involved in the alleged incident to get... ...Read more »

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. has taken the unprecedented next step of hosting a gathering of more than 1,000 leading suppliers, Chinese officials and NGOs in Beijing where they outlined a series of aggressive goals and expectations to build a more environmentally and socially responsible global supply chain. “I firmly believe that a company that cheats on overtime and on the age of its labour, that dumps its scraps and chemicals in our rivers, that does not pay its taxes or honour its contracts —... ...Read more »

The NSW Government has launched a major crackdown on food outlets across Sydney’s CBD in the lead up to the hectic summer period, Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald advised today. “A joint taskforce has been formed between the NSW Food Authority and Sydney City Council,” he said. “Food Authority inspectors are already out there visiting outlets in the CBD in a series of unannounced inspections - this will continue for the next few months.” “The vast majority... ...Read more »