Places are still available for an upcoming series of intensive workshops from leading food compliance consultants FoodLegal. The workshops will be run in both Sydney and Melbourne. 1. ‘Swim between the flags’ workshop  This workshop covers the best practices to identify when and how a non-compliance risk exists in any food marketing. This includes illustrations of non-compliance under Australian Consumer Law and what options can be considered. Choose your session: Friday 24th May: The... ...Read more »

There are still places available for an upcoming series of intensive workshops from leading food compliance consultants FoodLegal. The workshops will be run in both Sydney and Melbourne. 1. ‘Swim between the flags’ workshop  This workshop covers the best practices to identify when and how a non-compliance risk exists in any food marketing. This includes illustrations of non-compliance under Australian Consumer Law and what options can be considered. Choose your session: Friday 24th... ...Read more »

A new report tabled in the South Australian parliament shows that despite overwhelming community support for a plastic bag ban in the State, sales of bin liners have increased by more 80 per cent in South Australia (SA). According to research conducted by the Ehrenberg Bass Institute for Marketing Science at the University of South Australia, the plastic bag ban, which was implemented in South Australia in May 2009, has seen the household purchase of bin liners increase from 15 per cent to 80 per... ...Read more »

US yoghurt producer Chobani will no longer be able to label its yoghurts as ‘Greek yoghurt’ in the UK, after it lost a court case over whether the label was ‘misleading’. Following a seven-day trial, which was initiated by a complaint by Greek rival dairy company Fage, High Court judge, Justice Briggs, granted a permanent injunction stopping Chobani from using the label ‘Greek yoghurt’ on its yoghurt products in the UK. Fage, which produces Total Greek yoghurt and has a 95 per cent share... ...Read more »

The Australian Federal Government could abandon plans for a voluntary code of conduct in favour of a mandatory code, enforceable by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). According to various sources, the Australian Government is considering a mandatory code if negotiations for a voluntary code fail. If a mandatory code of conduct is developed, it could be similar to the UK’s Grocery Supply Code of Practice, which is enforced by a supermarket Ombudsman. Negotiations towards... ...Read more »

Poultry manufacturer Luv-a-Duck Pty Ltd is being taken to the Federal Court of Australia by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). The ACCC says the company’s claims that its ducks are ‘range reared and grain fed’ are false, misleading and deceptive. Luv-a-Duck claims on its packaging, website and brochures that its birds are ‘grown and grain fed in the spacious Victorian Wimmera Wheatlands’. But the ACCC alleges this is not true and that the ducks do not “have substantial... ...Read more »

A New York judge has blocked the City Council’s ban on large servings of sweet soft drinks, mere hours before the restrictions were due to come into effect. Australian Food News reported in September 2012 that New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s policy against soft drinks had gained support from weight loss groups. In September 2012, the New York Board of Health had approved a restriction on soft drinks, which would ban the sale of the sugary drinks in containers larger than 16 ounces (470 mL)... ...Read more »

The food and agriculture sectors in Western Australia are likely to be major beneficiaries of favourable policies that were promised by the returning Coalition government. The Liberal Party won an overall majority, with 32 seats, in the State’s election on Saturday 9 March 2013. The Liberals have said they intend to maintain their coalition with the WA Nationals, who held 3 Cabinet positions in the Coalition government prior to last Saturday’s results. Under the Barnett-led State Liberal... ...Read more »

Major supermarket chain Woolworths has been fined $7,500 for selling food past its Use-by date in Murray Bridge in South Australia. On Friday last week (8 March), the Woolworths Ltd pleaded guilty in the Adelaide Magistrates Court to selling two packets of food past their Use-by dates in May last year. Two packets of an Asian-style lamb and rice dish that were 13 days past the Use-by date were sold in a Woolworths store in Murray Bridge last year. Standard 1.2.5 of the Australia New Zealand Food... ...Read more »

Supermarket giant Woolworths is facing heated criticism from its suppliers after a recent newspaper report revealed the existence of a dossier produced by the Company. The dossier reportedly claims that increased competition from Aldi was driving Woolworths to expand its private label product range. The claims in the Woolworths dossier have added fuel to an already-heated debate about how the major food retailers deal with their suppliers. Both Woolworths and Coles are currently being investigated... ...Read more »