A team of researchers at the University of California, San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center and Columbia University have estimated that a nationwide tax on sweetened beverages in the U.S. would prevent nearly 26,000 deaths each year. Their research was based on the findings of previous U.S. research which estimated that a ‘penny-per-ounce’ tax would reduce consumption of sweetened beverages by 15 per cent over a decade. However, it appears the authors of the later study have... ...Read more »

Queensland horticulture body Growcom, says it intends to assess opportunities for Australian fruit and vegetable growers to generate credits under the Australian Government’s Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) scheme. The scheme allows landowners to generate carbon credits, and ultimately income streams, by conducting projects that reduce emissions or sequester carbon in the environment. Growcom’s David Putland said the scheme involved around a set of ‘approved methodologies’ that determined... ...Read more »

The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) has again called upon the Australian Government to take action to help Australian food manufacturers cope with “immense pressures” on their business. The AFGC’s call coincides with last Friday’s closure of Heinz Australia’s tomato sauce factory in Girgarre, Victoria. Despite the Girgarre closing, Heinz Australia continues to manufacture in the Goulburn Valley region through its baby food factory in Echuca. AFGC Chief Executive Kate Carnell... ...Read more »

Introducing a tax on saturated fat in foods is “regressive” and is not the way to reduce obesity levels in Australia, the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) warned today. Yesterday, Australian Food News reported on Denmark being the first country in the world to introduce a tax on processed food products high in saturated fats. In a statement released today, the AFGC said food taxes in Australia are “regressive” as they penalise people who are least able to afford it. AFGC Chief Executive... ...Read more »

In a world first, Denmark has introduced a tax on food products high in saturated fats. Despite the move sparking fresh calls for a similar tax law to be introduced in Australia, food industry opinion-makers are divided. The new tax law, implemented in Denmark on Saturday 1 October 2011, aims at discouraging unhealthy diets as well as offsetting the economic costs of obesity in Denmark. The law imposes a tax of 16 Danish Krone (A$2.96) per kilogram of saturated fat on meat products, certain dairy... ...Read more »

Projections of how carbon tax will affect commodity prices have been released through the Australian Government Treasury office. In contrast to goods such as electricity and gas, food prices are estimated to increase minimally. According to the Treasury’s new carbon price model, the majority of food product prices will rise. According to the Treasury’s carbon pricing report, the impact of carbon tax on the price milk is estimated to be the equivalent of a 1 cent price rise. Fruit, vegetables,... ...Read more »

Representing some of Australia’s leading health groups, the Alcohol Policy Coalition (APC) released a paper today challenging a commonly-held belief that red wine is beneficial for preventing cardiovascular disease. According to the ACP’s paper, titled Cancer, Cardiovascular Disease and Alcohol Consumption the potential for any benefit to the heart from red wine is “misunderstood”. The APC paper says that, although red wine contains antioxidants, it is “not a good source of antioxidants... ...Read more »

The Australian Food and Grocery council has decried the Federal Government’s proposed carbon tax, saying it will increase the cost of food and grocery manufacturing in Australia. While full details of the carbon tax have not yet been announced, AFGC Chief Executive Kate Carnell said a tax on carbon would be another cost to food and grocery manufacturers who are currently weathering a “perfect storm”. “Industry is under growing pressure from rising input costs across the supply chain,... ...Read more »

Winemakers have applauded the Australian Government’s common sense decision not to harm their industry, or ordinary Australians, by changing the way wine is taxed. The Winemakers’ Federation of Australia says the Government has shown courage in rejecting the Henry Review’s proposal to replace the wine-specific Wine Equalisation Tax (WET) with a volumetric tax system. “It would have been an easy option to go for raising more revenue and appeasing a few vested interests, but... ...Read more »

The Federal Court of Australia has ruled in favour of brewer Foster’s on appeals against disputed tax assessments relating to the financing of the Elders Finance Group in the 1980′s and 1990′s. “We welcome the Federal Court’s decision,” said Foster’s Chief Financial Officer, Angus McKay. “We have always been confident in our position and hope this matter will be brought to a swift resolution.” The Australian Commissioner of Taxation has the right... ...Read more »