Vegetable industry peak body AUSVEG has expressed its concern about the level of vegetable imports from China, following reports by the Agence France-Presse from China of the discovery of mushrooms with unsafe whitening agents that can cause health problems including liver damage and skin allergies, uncovered by an 11-year-old school boy from Beijing and since verified by the China Agricultural University. “This is yet another food safety incident in China that heightens our ongoing concern with... ...Read more »

Popular instant noodle brand Mi Goreng is being investigated by Food Standards Australia New Zealand, after some of the company’s products were pulled from Taiwanese shelves last month, having being found to contain more than the legal maximum quantity of two preservatives. FSANZ will test the noodles, manufactured by Indonesian noodle giant IndoMie, for their Methyl-P-Hydroxybenzoate (E218) and benzoic acid content. The two preservatives were found in illegal quantities in Taiwanese products,... ...Read more »

While Australian’s are spoilt for choice when it comes to the abundance of quality local produce available at our supermarkets and specialty stores, figures from business information analysts IBISWorld reveal that in some fresh and processed food sectors we are increasingly selecting imports over those home grown.In 2010, IBISWorld is estimating a significant 30% of our total seafood consumption will be made up of imports – equating to close to $1.05 billion in dollar terms, and 20.4%... ...Read more »

The importer and distributor of a Chinese gingili (sesame) paste that contained undeclared peanuts have been fined $2,640 and $6,600 respectively after it was found they had falsely labelled the food, Primary Industries Minister Steve Whan said today.Minister Whan said the false labels had been brought to the attention of the NSW Food Authority after a South Australian man was treated for anaphylaxis after unknowingly consuming peanuts contained in the product. “Fortunately this particular... ...Read more »

The human impact of airspace closure across northern Europe due to the volcanic ash cloud extends beyond stranded holidaymakers, to include the imports of fresh fruit and vegetables into the UK, according to the Freight Transport Association (FTA). Flight restrictions implemented in the UK and northern Europe after last week’s eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland have meant no food imports have arrived into Europe via aircraft. Christopher Snelling, FTA’s head of global supply... ...Read more »

Australian apple and pear growers are extremely concerned with the provisional final Import Risk Analysis (IRA) for apples from China.   APAL spokesperson on biosecurity issues and chairman of the Fire Blight Task Force, John Corby said the concerns of Australian apple and pear growers have been ignored in this process. “With three diseases in particular, oriental fruit moth, apple brown rot and European canker, the IRA does not specify which provinces have an unacceptable risk, but rather... ...Read more »

This week (March 15-21) is Australia’s first ever Bacon Week, a new initiative launched by the pork industry producer’s body, Australian Pork Limited (APL) to highlight the pink square Australian PorkMark – the only guaranteed way you can choose 100 per cent home grown and manufactured bacon. The theme for inaugural Bacon Week is “Bringing Home the Bacon”. This theme is designed to highlight the fact that the majority of pork used to make bacon sold in Australia was... ...Read more »

After initially announcing that the ban on beef imports from BSE-affected countries would be repealed, the government has backflipped, with Agriculture Minister Tony Burke yesterday announcing that any change in the standing import policy on beef would come only after a lengthy analysis of beef exports. Vocal opposition by Liberal, Greens and independent senators appears to have led to the reversal of the decision. Despite expert opinions that US beef is free of BSE, the opposition maintains it’s... ...Read more »

Tangerine Confectionery, the UK sweets firm, wants to double export sales as it expands its business in Australia. The company has revealed its target for overseas sales after announcing it will sell Sherbet Fountains and Taveners Proper Sweets to Australian retailers including Coles. Australia is Tangerine’s largest export market and a spokesman told just-food that the company wants to build its business Down Under and in South Africa, Hong Kong and Canada. “We currently export about... ...Read more »

Federal Trade Minister Simon Crean has welcomed a breakthrough deal on banana imports into the European Union ending a dispute that has been running for 16 years.Mr Crean also welcomed a related agreement to provide deeper tariff cuts on the importation of tropical products into Europe, and other markets, which will benefit Australian exporters once the Doha Round is concluded. The minister said the deals on bananas and tropical products would generate much needed momentum towards concluding the... ...Read more »