topic Re: Who should decide the guidelines on Food Labels? in Community Spirit

Who should decide the guidelines on Food Labels?

donnashuggy — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 02:36:06 GMT

We have already been told many times over the years that for example coles and woollies do carry out tests

I think that has failed us

http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/feb/18/tony-abbott-says-no-to-tougher-food-tests-labels-after-hepatitis-a-outbreak?CMP=share_btn_tw

The current problem with the berries is known to have been a problem around the world for a few years yet it is still happening?

Re: Who should decide the guidelines on Food Labels?

donnashuggy — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 02:39:00 GMT

I just heard first case in WA from the same berries

Re: Who should decide the guidelines on Food Labels?

myoclon1cjerk — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 02:46:43 GMT

I can feel a big lawsuit coming on.

Re: Who should decide the guidelines on Food Labels?

cherry*135 — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 02:55:22 GMT

Food Standards Australia New Zealand administers the Australian New Zealand Food Standards Code.

We are a bi-national Government agency. We develop and administer the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, which lists requirements for foods such as additives, food safety, labelling and GM foods. Enforcement and interpretation of the Code is the responsibility of state and territory departments and food agencies within Australia and New Zealand.

Labelling - consumers should have the right to know which country any imported food comes from imo.

The general statement - ingredients - local and imported produce is not good enough.

There have been a lot of comments this week that consumers should buy Australian made produce, which would be OK if the supermarkets would give priority on their shelves to Australian grown, instead of priority to large quantities of their own home brand imported food instead.

The supermarkets are the ones importing more overseas produce and this means Aust growers/farmers are forced to compete with the lower priced imported produce.

Free trade agreements have something to do with this as well - Our Govt agrees to accept xx amount of produce/goods from the countries they have a FTA with.... latest ones, or near to agreements being China, Korea, Japan & India

Re: Who should decide the guidelines on Food Labels?

cherry*135 — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 02:58:26 GMT

Double post.

I do think the Govt's reluctance to change has to do with the Free Trade Agreements.

Re: Who should decide the guidelines on Food Labels?

village_person — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 05:29:11 GMT

If the gov't musters the courage to take on Woolies, Coles, and the importers of rubbish from overseas we might see positive changes. A possible law suit against one of the big supermarkets might go a long way to force change for the better.

Re: Who should decide the guidelines on Food Labels?

donnashuggy — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 20:37:05 GMT

http://choice.good.do/CoOL/write-to-barnaby-joyce/

Re: Who should decide the guidelines on Food Labels?

donnashuggy — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 20:38:23 GMT

Re: Who should decide the guidelines on Food Labels?

kopenhagen5 — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 22:37:04 GMT

Who should decide the guidelines on Food Labels?

Perhaps that should be the National Measurement Institute.

http://www.measurement.gov.au/measurementsystem/Pages/MeasurementLegislation.aspx

Re: Who should decide the guidelines on Food Labels?

lal-au0 — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 23:12:53 GMT

when i see on the label "local and imported ingredients" i have to assume that it is chinese ingredients with added australian water. if there really was a significant amount of australian ingredients they would proudly tell us on the label would they not?

dick smith who harks on about australian stuff....well HIS vegemite is only "made in australia" unlike aussiemite which is "product of australia"

Re: Who should decide the guidelines on Food Labels?

donnashuggy — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 00:02:01 GMT

It is hard work going shopping trying to read and find where something comes from

Re: Who should decide the guidelines on Food Labels?

ambercat16 — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 07:32:36 GMT

@lal-au0 wrote:

dick smith who harks on about australian stuff....well HIS vegemite is only "made in australia" unlike aussiemite which is "product of australia"

True - but a product also has to taste good. I have tried several Dick Smith products and can't say I like the taste of any of them (jams are far too sweet, peanut butter very sweet also and odd consistancy, and his vegemite is horrid)

Re: Who should decide the guidelines on Food Labels?

bella_again — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 07:52:15 GMT

Apparently a product only needs 50% or more Australian ingredients to be classified as Aussie made. I read this the other day and was in shock. So unless it says 100% Australian made on the label there is still no guarantee.

Re: Who should decide the guidelines on Food Labels?

katymatey* — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 07:59:45 GMT

@donnashuggy wrote:
It is hard work going shopping trying to read and find where something comes from

I did that today, doubled my shopping time. I am confused though. Some things are product of Australia, that is clear enough. Others are labelled made in Australia, but when I read the label carefully there is nothing to say where the ingredients are from. That is just not good enough.

I wanted some tomato paste. 500 gram jar was 1.29 in Aldi, two snack pack type containers were 1.79. Cheapest one made in China, dearest, product of Australia. Same brand, side by side on the shelf. No wonder ppl are calling for clearer labelling.

Re: Who should decide the guidelines on Food Labels?

bella_again — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 09:43:43 GMT

Yep I found exactly the same problem when I was looking Katey. Product of Australia in my limited understanding ,means made from imported and local ingredients. Made in Australia from local ingredients is the aim. But having said that apparently they only need a minimum of 50% Australian produce or ingrediants to make that claim (if the article I read was correct). So I look for 100% Made in Australia from local or Australian ingredients. However they label it.

Either way its confusing, took me forever to shop lol! 🙂

Re: Who should decide the guidelines on Food Labels?

cherry*135 — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 11:02:45 GMT

Untangling the definitions

“Product of Australia” means all the significant ingredients must originate here, and almost all the manufacturing or processing must be done in Australia.
“Made in Australia”, “Australian Made” and “Manufactured in Australia” claims mean the product must be substantially “transformed” in Australia – it must have undergone a fundamental change in form, appearance or nature, such that the product existing after the change is new and different from the product beforehand – with at least 50% of production costs incurred here.
All these claims come under the Trade Practices Act. Where you see these claims on products, the manufacturer must meet the COO test requirements of the legislation.

Australian Owned

The ACCC says:

A company claiming to be “Australian Owned” must prove that at least 51% of its ownership is held in Australia –
Full local ownership is required if it claims to be “100% Australian owned”.

Until the ACCC took action in February 2010, Golden Circle was claiming to be “proudly Australian owned” for as long as one year after it was sold to foreign-owned Heinz.

Re: Who should decide the guidelines on Food Labels?

bella_again — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 11:09:45 GMT

Thanks Am3 every label I read with the Product of Australia said made from imported and local ingrediants. To me that is still too risky. But its good to have some clarity its so confusing. I wish it was all simpler!

Re: Who should decide the guidelines on Food Labels?

gleee58 — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 11:12:52 GMT

@bella_again wrote:
Yep I found exactly the same problem when I was looking Katey. Product of Australia in my limited understanding ,means made from imported and local ingredients. Made in Australia from local ingredients is the aim. But having said that apparently they only need a minimum of 50% Australian produce or ingrediants to make that claim (if the article I read was correct). So I look for 100% Made in Australia from local or Australian ingredients. However they label it.

Either way its confusing, took me forever to shop lol! 🙂

Product of Australia means it's Australian product. Made in Aus can contain imported ingredients.

Re: Who should decide the guidelines on Food Labels?

nevynreally — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 11:13:57 GMT

@village_person wrote:
If the gov't musters the courage to take on Woolies, Coles, and the importers of rubbish from overseas we might see positive changes. A possible law suit against one of the big supermarkets might go a long way to force change for the better.

It is not the fault of any supermarket, it is the responsibility of the manufacturers/ or distributors of any product to indicate country of origin.

Supermarkets are the sellers of products. They make no claims of quality for their products. They just sell stuff off their shelves.

Re: Who should decide the guidelines on Food Labels?

gleee58 — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 11:17:13 GMT

‘Product of’ and ‘Grown in’

'Product of' and 'Grown in' means that each significant ingredient or part of the product originated in the country claimed and almost all of the production processes occurred in that country.

‘Product of’ is often used for processed food and ‘Grown in’ is mostly used for fresh food.

For example

If ‘Product of Australia’ appears on a packet of smoked salmon, this means the salmon was both caught and smoked in Australia.
If ‘Grown in Australia’ appears on an apple, it was grown in Australia.

https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/groceries/country-of-origin