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?

[j*oono]

You've never heard of Tesco?  Perhaps you've never heard of Walmart or Marks and Spencers or Sainsbury's. Do you ever read books?

My suggestion is that the label in big letters should say Made in Australia from locally grown ingredients.

[nevynreally]

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@j*oono wrote:

You've never heard of Tesco?  Perhaps you've never heard of Walmart or Marks and Spencers or Sainsbury's. Do you ever read books?

My suggestion is that the label in big letters should say Made in Australia from locally grown ingredients.

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Thank you, have heard of the ones you mentioned. And thanks for the condescending post. I've never travelled to England, so why would I know of their version of Bi-lo?

And, back on point, your suggestion is a good one, but it's one the producers of the product should make, not really the resposibility of those who sell it.

[j*oono]

If they sell it at a cheaper rate to Australian supermarkets then it is up the those shops to handle the labelling though.

Coles and Woolworths sell many companies goods and they stick their own label on it.  I think that the supermarkets should be leading the way as they are the ones trying to squeeze out local producers with imported products.

[nevynreally]

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@j*oono wrote:

If they sell it at a cheaper rate to Australian supermarkets then it is up the those shops to handle the labelling though.

Coles and Woolworths sell many companies goods and they stick their own label on it.  I think that the supermarkets should be leading the way as they are the ones trying to squeeze out local producers with imported products.

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They sell name brands SECONDS under the supermarket's branding. How about the manufacturers come clean first, then go after the supermarkets?

[j*oono]

I don't think they do Nevyn.  They sell the same product, not seconds. If Coles squeezes them and says we will stock your product but only if you allow us to sell half of them under our label or not at all, what would they do?

I'm only guessing here but I was told by a staff member that their milk came from Brownes.  How do you get seconds in milk?

Edit to say that it's in WA.  Other Coles would have their own suppliers.

[gleee58]

Really not getting it. Placement has been going on for years. Never heard of Tesco before, never been to England though. Both supermarkets own brands are seconds, the lower maybe thirds now. What are you not getting? None of this is new. None of this should be surprising to consumers, so what's your point? They don't dictate where the product comes from, the producers do.

If you don;t get it why keep arguing about it?

The home brands (plain packaged) are seconds that are not scrutinzed to the same extent.

The premium lines are controlled by the supermarket.  The supermarkets order the product they want and they oversee every stage of the process.    They have taken out exclusive ownership of some products so that their competition could not stock the same product.  

I think Kumato tomatoes was one that woolies had exclusive rights to sell for some years, along with a dark purple potato that I don't recall the name of.  Coles have exclusive rights to sell Perinos.  Unless that has changed very recently.  There are loads more examples.

It's not the growers making the choice to sell a variety to one supermarket and not the other. it's the supermarkets who pressure the growers into exclusivity deals.

[gleee58]

Really not getting it. Placement has been going on for years. Never heard of Tesco before, never been to England though. Both supermarkets own brands are seconds, the lower maybe thirds now. What are you not getting? None of this is new. None of this should be surprising to consumers, so what's your point? They don't dictate where the product comes from, the producers do.

If you don;t get it why keep arguing about it?

The home brands (plain packaged) are seconds that are not scrutinzed to the same extent.

The premium lines are controlled by the supermarket.  The supermarkets order the product they want and they oversee every stage of the process.    They have taken out exclusive ownership of some products so that their competition could not stock the same product.  

I think Kumato tomatoes was one that woolies had exclusive rights to sell for some years, along with a dark purple potato that I don't recall the name of.  Coles have exclusive rights to sell Perinos.  Unless that has changed very recently.  There are loads more examples.

It's not the growers making the choice to sell a variety to one supermarket and not the other. it's the supermarkets who pressure the growers into exclusivity deals.

[debra9275]

http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/uncertainty-over-governments-response-to-he...

"We have moved to 100 per cent screening of these sorts of imports until this matter is resolved in a way which is very protective of the health of the Australian public," Mr Abbott said.

"So we've taken firm action because our job is to protect the Australian public."

A spokeswoman for the Prime Minister later explained that the 100 per cent screening applies only to Patties frozen berry products.

But it is remains unclear who is actually doing the screening.

While the Prime Minister's remarks appeared to suggest it was a response by the Australian authorities, Mr Joyce's office said it was Patties that was withholding the products and conducting screening.

Asked for clarification, Mr Abbott's office could not say who was screening the frozen berries

in the past, I had always believed that the food coming into Australia was safe...... maybe not!

[bella_again]

My suggestion is that the label in big letters should say Made in Australia from locally grown ingredients.

Totally agree with that, some items do say that hence my confusion re the labelling.  I don't think it should say made in Australia unless it is not only produced and packaged here but the contents are from here.

I still don't understand how a lot of Product of Australia are made from local and imported ingredients, if they are only supposed to do that if they have to source extra ingredients.  At least 70% of the products I picked up say that.  So where are they getting the gap ingredients from?  country of origin should be compulsory.

Other labels I picked up said 100% made in Australia with local ingredients (not many mind). But they are there surely that is safer.  I get the 50% argument but if they are saying 100%....

[bella_again]

Don't know if it was posted but this article re the frozen berries also explains current labelling to some extent.

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/calls-for-tougher-country-of-origin-food-label...

USTRALIA'S CURRENT COUNTRY OF ORIGIN LABELS

"Product of" or "Grown in" Each significant ingredient originated in a particular country and most of the production occurred there.

"Made In" The product was made in a particular country and at least 50 per cent of the cost to produce the product was incurred in that country.

If a food product says "Made in Australia" it does not necessarily mean the ingredients were grown in Australia.

IN A NUTSHELL

• Country of origin labelling is required on unpackaged goods including fresh and processed fruit, vegetables, nuts, spices, herbs, fish and meat
• The country of origin of the food must be identified, or a company can state the food is a mix of local and imported food or a mix of imported foods
• Packaged food must identify where the food was made, produced or grown or where it was manufactured or packaged
• It must identify if the food is a mix of local and imported ingredients or a mix of imported foods

Some foods include claims on their labels such as "Proudly Australian owned" or "100% Australian owned". These statements are about the ownership of the company and do not indicate where the product was made or where its ingredients came from.