Where does it come from?

[donnashuggy]

Well I have just been shopping and all the Colgate toothpaste that I looked at comes from Thailand.

It would be great if others posted examples of products and where they come from as I am sure there are plenty of surprises out there.

I know I have plenty more to add 

[donnashuggy]

Came across this, https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152907291598071&set=a.404225383070.180181.761878070&type=1

[cherry*135]

Icecream - some of the Magnum flavours can be made in Germany.
One new fruit smoothie type on a stick was made in Indonesia.

[cherry*135]

I am not sure how reliable or up to date the info is, in that facebook post.

Birdseye is not a NZ brand ( in that fb post it is stated as one). In Aust Birdseye are owned by Simplot. They do sell imported frozen vege.

Woolies own brand frozen veges are mostly Aust grown now, not imported as that FB post claims. Coles is the same.
This is a reversal from when supermarket own brand frozen produce were first introduced using imported produce.

Two inaccurate statements so far.

Those barcodes - where did they get that info from?

[lloydslights]

Yes am3, I am querying that info too.  My previously mentioned Cussons soap - made in Indonesia - has a barcode beginning with 93.

Is it to do with where an item is packaged rather than from where the product originally came?

DEB

[donnashuggy]

No idea however I am keen to learn what is correct and what is incorrect. I wasn't looking, a friend posted it on facebook so I put it here to query it.

[cherry*135]

From facebook link

The first 3 digits of the barcode is the country code where-in the product was made.  FALSE

Please also note the Australian barcode prefix is 93.

REMEMBER THE AUSTRALIAN BARCODE PREFIX????

IT IS 93

9 3 ...

Select brand peas - Product of Australia - 9 3006

Colgate sensitive toothpaste - Made in Brazil 9 3006

John West tuna - Made in Thailand - 9 3004

Heinz Beanz - Made in NZ - 9 3006

Val Verde Italian Tomatoes - Product of Italy - 9 3101

9 4...

Soap - NZ made - 9 4200

Anatoth Raspberry Jam - Made in NZ - 9 4147

Rice  bran spread - NZ made- 9 4179

McCains peas - NZ produce  9 4140

DO NOT BUY FOOD PROCESSED IN CHINA, HONG KONG, VIETNAM or THAILAND!!! Remember, there are no food inspection regulations!!!

If an Australian firm is importing produce from other countries - do they ensure that the imported produce meets the Aust & NZ Food Safety standards? I thought they did.  I know that isn't fool proof though, e.g. the imported berries/HEP A. example.

93 might be the country the product is going to be sold in. 9 3 being Australia's code.

As NZ & Aust have the same Food Safety Standards regulatory body, NZ products 9 4 is OK?

[donnashuggy]

Nobody seems to have much chance unless they write in english clearly when an item comes from.

What I find difficult is finding the darn writing as all packaging is different. I wish the barcodes started with AUS

[cherry*135 · Accepted solution]

The country of origin needs to be made clear. Current labelling laws allows the imported ingredients or mix of local and imported... which tells us (consumers) nothing.

Lets hope the Govt does actually get around to fixing that.

[village_person]

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@wilk1149 wrote:
I'm a diabetic and when in hospital I tick that I'm a diabetic and they give me food and drink I can't consume because they have no idea what a diabetic should actually eat

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Could it be that the kitchen staff have trouble with English? I find a lot of nurses - a critical role for sure - have trouble with English.