Who should decide the guidelines on Food Labels?

[donnashuggy]

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-labe...

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?

[nevynreally]

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@am*3 wrote:

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@nevynreally wrote:

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@am*3 wrote:

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@bella_again wrote:

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!

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Yes it is too confusing, has annoyed me for a long time. 

Product of Australia said made from imported and local ingrediants. - Yes that doesn't tell us anything.. could be 1 Australian grown raspberry and the rest from the 'unknown' overseas country/ies.

Supermarkets are giving more shelf space to their own home brand labelled products.... most imported.. less space for Aust grown produce on the shelves.

Australian producers have to compete with the lower priced imported produce.. so I do think supermarkets have played a big part in diminishing our choices for those who prefer Australian grown produce. The supermarkets sell what ever makes them the most earnings.

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You're not getting that that is because it's what research has showed that's what people want. They want cheap, while paying lip service to buying "australian".

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Your opinion only.

There are low income families that have to buy 'cheap' prodcuts (no matter where they are made/produced) because  they don't have any choice (can't afford to pay anymore). They aren't paying 'lip service' to anything.

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Are you confrontational on a pro bono  basis? 

I don't view the supermarkets as being responsible for any non-Australian content, they both buy seconds. I don't know what Aldi does, but they're probably no better than the Australian two.

[gleee58]

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@nevynreally wrote:

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@gleee58 wrote:

The supermarkets are competing with the other brands. They have their own ranges of labels and they go through the same processes as all the other producers.  They are ruthless and will squeeze out those who don't play along with their demands.  They were trying to mimic Tesco and Aldi.  Not sure if they're still on that track or not.   Coles have woken up a bit to the fact that consumers want Aus product in the fresh and frozen food lines but are lagging in other areas. 

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Not really, they offer cheaper, inferior versions of top brands. Made by top brands. Been that way way before Aldi and Costco. They have no say in Australian content though, that is a manufacturing decision.

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No, I'm not talking about the home brands that used to take the second grade local products.  The supermarkets introduced their premium lines to compete with the brand names.  They were trying to mimic Tesco in particular and were aiming for about 80% of their in store range when they started.  I don't know what the current policy is but 5ish years ago that was the aim.   What's Costco got to do with it?  They sell brand names.

[nevynreally]

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@gleee58 wrote:

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@nevynreally wrote:

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@gleee58 wrote:

The supermarkets are competing with the other brands. They have their own ranges of labels and they go through the same processes as all the other producers.  They are ruthless and will squeeze out those who don't play along with their demands.  They were trying to mimic Tesco and Aldi.  Not sure if they're still on that track or not.   Coles have woken up a bit to the fact that consumers want Aus product in the fresh and frozen food lines but are lagging in other areas. 

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Not really, they offer cheaper, inferior versions of top brands. Made by top brands. Been that way way before Aldi and Costco. They have no say in Australian content though, that is a manufacturing decision.

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No, I'm not talking about the home brands that used to take the second grade local products.  The supermarkets introduced their premium lines to compete with the brand names.  They were trying to mimic Tesco in particular and were aiming for about 80% of their in store range when they started.  I don't know what the current policy is but 5ish years ago that was the aim.   What's Costco got to do with it?  They sell brand names.

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What's Tesco got to do with any of it? Homebrands, and the more upmarket homebrands are still products of major brands. And those major brands are the ones with the packaging details.

[nevynreally]

What is Tesco anyway?

[gleee58]

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@nevynreally wrote:

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@gleee58 wrote:

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@nevynreally wrote:

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@gleee58 wrote:

The supermarkets are competing with the other brands. They have their own ranges of labels and they go through the same processes as all the other producers.  They are ruthless and will squeeze out those who don't play along with their demands.  They were trying to mimic Tesco and Aldi.  Not sure if they're still on that track or not.   Coles have woken up a bit to the fact that consumers want Aus product in the fresh and frozen food lines but are lagging in other areas. 

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Not really, they offer cheaper, inferior versions of top brands. Made by top brands. Been that way way before Aldi and Costco. They have no say in Australian content though, that is a manufacturing decision.

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No, I'm not talking about the home brands that used to take the second grade local products.  The supermarkets introduced their premium lines to compete with the brand names.  They were trying to mimic Tesco in particular and were aiming for about 80% of their in store range when they started.  I don't know what the current policy is but 5ish years ago that was the aim.   What's Costco got to do with it?  They sell brand names.

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What's Tesco got to do with any of it? Homebrands, and the more upmarket homebrands are still products of major brands. And those major brands are the ones with the packaging details.

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The suppliers don't make the decisions about the packaging details.  

Some producers no longer supply their own lines because the supermarkets wanted exclusive contracts and some suppliers refused to produce products that would directly compete with their own lines and felt the pain on the balance sheet.  The premium lines are not seconds and the producers are instructed down to the last detail by the supermarkets.  

Tesco is a UK grocery chain that both Woolies and Coles had a go at copying.  As I said, I'm not sure if that's still the aim or not.

[nevynreally]

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@gleee58 wrote:

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@nevynreally wrote:

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@gleee58 wrote:

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@nevynreally wrote:

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@gleee58 wrote:

The supermarkets are competing with the other brands. They have their own ranges of labels and they go through the same processes as all the other producers.  They are ruthless and will squeeze out those who don't play along with their demands.  They were trying to mimic Tesco and Aldi.  Not sure if they're still on that track or not.   Coles have woken up a bit to the fact that consumers want Aus product in the fresh and frozen food lines but are lagging in other areas. 

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Not really, they offer cheaper, inferior versions of top brands. Made by top brands. Been that way way before Aldi and Costco. They have no say in Australian content though, that is a manufacturing decision.

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No, I'm not talking about the home brands that used to take the second grade local products.  The supermarkets introduced their premium lines to compete with the brand names.  They were trying to mimic Tesco in particular and were aiming for about 80% of their in store range when they started.  I don't know what the current policy is but 5ish years ago that was the aim.   What's Costco got to do with it?  They sell brand names.

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What's Tesco got to do with any of it? Homebrands, and the more upmarket homebrands are still products of major brands. And those major brands are the ones with the packaging details.

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The suppliers don't make the decisions about the packaging details.  

Some producers no longer supply their own lines because the supermarkets wanted exclusive contracts and some suppliers refused to produce products that would directly compete with their own lines and felt the pain on the balance sheet.  The premium lines are not seconds and the producers are instructed down to the last detail by the supermarkets.  

Tesco is a UK grocery chain that both Woolies and Coles had a go at copying.  As I said, I'm not sure if that's still the aim or not.

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Tesco isn't in Australia, so I'm not getting your relevance. Bot Coles and Woolies have contracts with suppliers for their seconds, they have no say on the where the content comes from. 

The premium lines ARE seconds.

[opmania]

this subject has caused a great deal of angst for me for many years

just today I spent about 15 minutes in the orange juice section of coles trying to find a juice that was 100% australian

a couple of days ago I spent the same amount of time sifting through frozen bean packets in foodland and finally found one that

said 100% australian

I go out for tea and order fish and ask waitress where the fish is from they say don't know I say would you please find out oh so nicely

and they come back and say south africa and I say we have the best fish in the world here and the cleanest oceans why cant you

supply australian fish and then I order rump

It's up to every individual to stick to the Australian produce band wagon

yes it is a bit more expensive but when there is no choice and everything is made in china their **bleep** will be even more expensive

[gleee58]

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@nevynreally wrote:

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@gleee58 wrote:

---

@nevynreally wrote:

---

@gleee58 wrote:

---

@nevynreally wrote:

---

@gleee58 wrote:

The supermarkets are competing with the other brands. They have their own ranges of labels and they go through the same processes as all the other producers.  They are ruthless and will squeeze out those who don't play along with their demands.  They were trying to mimic Tesco and Aldi.  Not sure if they're still on that track or not.   Coles have woken up a bit to the fact that consumers want Aus product in the fresh and frozen food lines but are lagging in other areas. 

---

Not really, they offer cheaper, inferior versions of top brands. Made by top brands. Been that way way before Aldi and Costco. They have no say in Australian content though, that is a manufacturing decision.

---

No, I'm not talking about the home brands that used to take the second grade local products.  The supermarkets introduced their premium lines to compete with the brand names.  They were trying to mimic Tesco in particular and were aiming for about 80% of their in store range when they started.  I don't know what the current policy is but 5ish years ago that was the aim.   What's Costco got to do with it?  They sell brand names.

---

What's Tesco got to do with any of it? Homebrands, and the more upmarket homebrands are still products of major brands. And those major brands are the ones with the packaging details.

---

The suppliers don't make the decisions about the packaging details.  

Some producers no longer supply their own lines because the supermarkets wanted exclusive contracts and some suppliers refused to produce products that would directly compete with their own lines and felt the pain on the balance sheet.  The premium lines are not seconds and the producers are instructed down to the last detail by the supermarkets.  

Tesco is a UK grocery chain that both Woolies and Coles had a go at copying.  As I said, I'm not sure if that's still the aim or not.

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Tesco isn't in Australia, so I'm not getting your relevance. Bot Coles and Woolies have contracts with suppliers for their seconds, they have no say on the where the content comes from. 

The premium lines ARE seconds.

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No the premium lines are not purchased by Coles as seconds.  They provide the specs and they check that the producer meets the specs.  They specify the quality testing requirements of their suppliers and they do audit those suppliers records for compliance.

Coles and Woolies do control the contents and packaging on thier premium content lines.

I know Tesco is not Australian. I said Coles and Woolies both aimed to mimic the Tesco style of supermarket experience.

[nevynreally]

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@gleee58 wrote:

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@nevynreally wrote:

---

@gleee58 wrote:

---

@nevynreally wrote:

---

@gleee58 wrote:

---

@nevynreally wrote:

---

@gleee58 wrote:

The supermarkets are competing with the other brands. They have their own ranges of labels and they go through the same processes as all the other producers.  They are ruthless and will squeeze out those who don't play along with their demands.  They were trying to mimic Tesco and Aldi.  Not sure if they're still on that track or not.   Coles have woken up a bit to the fact that consumers want Aus product in the fresh and frozen food lines but are lagging in other areas. 

---

Not really, they offer cheaper, inferior versions of top brands. Made by top brands. Been that way way before Aldi and Costco. They have no say in Australian content though, that is a manufacturing decision.

---

No, I'm not talking about the home brands that used to take the second grade local products.  The supermarkets introduced their premium lines to compete with the brand names.  They were trying to mimic Tesco in particular and were aiming for about 80% of their in store range when they started.  I don't know what the current policy is but 5ish years ago that was the aim.   What's Costco got to do with it?  They sell brand names.

---

What's Tesco got to do with any of it? Homebrands, and the more upmarket homebrands are still products of major brands. And those major brands are the ones with the packaging details.

---

The suppliers don't make the decisions about the packaging details.  

Some producers no longer supply their own lines because the supermarkets wanted exclusive contracts and some suppliers refused to produce products that would directly compete with their own lines and felt the pain on the balance sheet.  The premium lines are not seconds and the producers are instructed down to the last detail by the supermarkets.  

Tesco is a UK grocery chain that both Woolies and Coles had a go at copying.  As I said, I'm not sure if that's still the aim or not.

---

Tesco isn't in Australia, so I'm not getting your relevance. Bot Coles and Woolies have contracts with suppliers for their seconds, they have no say on the where the content comes from. 

The premium lines ARE seconds.

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No the premium lines are not purchased by Coles as seconds.  They provide the specs and they check that the producer meets the specs.  They specify the quality testing requirements of their suppliers and they do audit those suppliers records for compliance.

Coles and Woolies do control the contents and packaging on thier premium content lines.

I know Tesco is not Australian. I said Coles and Woolies both aimed to mimic the Tesco style of supermarket experience.

Bringing up some company most here have never heard of. Fail

Coles and Woolies control the pricing only. Neither care about the content. 

Still not getting the Tesco thing. Who gives a fig?

[gleee58]

Just because you don't believe does not make it a fail.

Your claims about specifications, quality control and packaging are wrong.