Competition and Consumer Commission Addresses 'Organic' Claims
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has called on food and beverage manufacturers to curb their use of potentially misleading labels when marketing goods to customers.
ACCC Commissioner Mr John Martin today launched* a new food descriptors guideline and said it was the responsibility of every member of the $90 billion a year sector to ensure they were complying with consumer protection laws.
Mr Martin launched a new food descriptors guideline designed to help businesses understand what was considered acceptable and unacceptable labelling under the requirements of national competition and consumer protection laws contained in the Trade Practices Act 1974.
"The ACCC is particularly concerned by the apparent upswing in terms like organic and free-range where business seeks to take advantage of strong consumer demand and where the absence of regulation may provide opportunity for some business to engage in unlawful conduct", Mr Martin said.
"The ACCC believes that all representations about food and beverage should be based upon the truth but acknowledges that some claims are merely puffery - those such as farmhouse or country style may be simply fanciful or exaggerated.
The guide sets out the ACCC's views around claims that describe a product's quality, quantity, composition and/or origin.
"Descriptions of foods and beverages can be in the form of words or pictures, stated or implied, on a product label, a company website, or in a television advertisement.
"The ACCC believes that consumers would have a reasonable expectation that a food describing itself to be natural or pure should not contain food additives or artificial preservatives. Unfortunately in the past this has not always been the case. Foods that claim to be fresh should not have been processed and then reconstituted.
"Consumers should not be misled by food and beverage businesses relying on finer details or qualifications that are hidden in the ingredients list or elsewhere on the product's label", Mr Martin said. "Business needs to be mindful that consumers are not food technicians and may therefore not appreciate some of the finer nuances of food manufacturing".
The guide also includes several examples of the industry-specific enforcement matters the ACCC has undertaken.
"This guide has been developed in conjunction with the consumer lobby, industry, Food Standards Australia New Zealand and, in recognition of the trans-Tasman nature of the food and beverage industry, the New Zealand Commerce Commission, to the benefit of all consumers.
"The ACCC expects a greater level of trade practices law consideration to be reflected in advertising and labelling practices across the entire food and beverage industry sector. The new guideline is an important step in assisting the industry to adopt a proactive and informed approach to compliance.
"Those who fail to comply with the law risk action being taken against them by the ACCC, for breaches of the Trade Practices Act, or by State and Territory food law enforcement agencies for breaches of the Food Standards Code".
Food and beverage industry- Food descriptors guideline to the Trade Practices Act is available from the ACCC in printed form and from the ACCC website.
Australia's organic regulations lacking
26 Oct 2006
The Australian Consumers' Association has accused the Federal Government of ‘dragging its feet' while consumers are being misled.
The Australian, organic food industry is worth an estimated $450 million a year in Australia, and is one of the fastest-growing food sectors worldwide. There is concern that there is no government regulation about what defines organic food. Consumers, in most cases, aren't getting what they pay for, and in some cases are not getting what they pay for. Organic food labelling is controlled by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service. Standards Australia is developing a standard for organic food, but the ACA has said this needed to be supported by tougher government guidelines. A Food Standards Australia New Zealand spokesperson has said the Food Standards Code was not the right place to define "organic". The Code is to ensure food safety and not to define foods. Friends of the Earth in UK find GMO rice Chain Morrison Supermarkets said on Sunday it had withdrawn two rice products after and environmental group said they contained unauthorised GMO rice. "The discovery of GMO contaminated rice in supermarkets is extremely worrying", Helen Holder, from Friends of the Earth Europe said. The EC confirmed the presence of unauthorised LL601 rice strain in 33 samples carried out by the industry.
How To Prevent E. Coli
November 14th, 2006
You will probably have heard about the recent outbreak of E. coli in the US which killed at least 3 people and infected around 200. Most of these people were hospitalised and some suffered kidney failure. The outbreak was traced to organic spinach sold in plastic bags which was probably contaminated by animal manure.
There is not a lot you can do to prevent getting infected with this disease by contaminated greens. The most you can do is wash the greens well (even if they have been washed before packaged) and cook them at a high temperature. Of course, spinach and lettuce is often eaten raw so you are taking your chances a little but this kind of serious contamination isn't that common.
Eating home grown vegetables is a good idea but is not without risk. This article provides good tips on how to prevent E. coli from getting into your food from your home garden. Some of these tips include:
Avoid Home Composted Manure
Manure must be heated to a temperature of at least 140 degrees to kill such pathogens as E. coli, and there's no guarantee that backyard compost piles will reach that temperature through the natural decomposition process, which does give off heat. "Even if they do," says Dr. LaBorde, "they might just get hot enough at the center and not around the edges." Instead, he recommends composting leaves, grass clippings and other greens.
So it looks like it's best to stick to using plant materials in your compost. If you want to use animal manure on your garden it is safest to buy manure from your local garden centre which has met certain standards and has been heat sterilised.
Wear Protective Gloves and a Mask
Wearing gloves when applying compost and fertilizers and wearing a dust mask when you apply powdered fertilizers are simple, inexpensive precautions that should be routine for gardeners.
Hygiene Matters
"The much larger hazard is cross-contamination in the kitchen," says Dr. LaBorde. Use separate cutting boards for raw meat and fresh vegetables. To keep your harvest safe, wash your hands with soap and water when you come in from the garden, and then rinse produce thoroughly.
Protect Your Children
Kids love to help with the harvest, but as LaBorde points out, "There's no telling what's on their hands." Children and those with compromised immune systems are particularly vulnerable to E. coli infection, making it all the more important that they wash their hands and use gloves in the garden.
In summary, the best way to protect yourself and your family is to:
Wear gloves in the garden.
Wear a mask when using fertiliser such as blood and bone.
Be careful (or avoid) using animal manures on your vegetables.
Wash your hands thoroughly and regularly with soap and water.
However, it is worth remembering this : There are probably far more health hazards lurking on your kitchen counter than there are in your garden.
November 06th, 2006
I've heard a number of people rave about the health benefits of grapes. Some claiming they can cure all kinds of diseases or conditions such as cancer, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, or chronic fatigue syndrome, others believing them to be the ultimate in detox dieting. This is most likely due to grapes being used in alternative medicine such as ayurvedic medicine as well as The Grape Cure diet, which has been around for many years.
Recent research points to resveratrol as the chemical which is beneficial to our health. Resveratrol is mainly found in the skin of red grapes. It is believed to have the following benefits:
Anti-cancer
Anti-viral
Neuro-protective
Anti-aging
Anti-inflammatory
Life prolonging
It is also found in:
Peanuts
Blueberries
Bilberries
Scientific research into the health benefits of grapes and resveratrol is ongoing but the anecdotal evidence is interesting.
Why Buy Organic Grapes?
Many chemicals are used when growing grapes using conventional methods. In fact, they are one of the most heavily sprayed crops. Chemicals used on grapes include:
Pesticides
Fungicides
Herbicides
Residues of these chemicals are found on table grapes as well as those used for wine production. Some of these chemicals are known to be detrimental to your health such as having negative effects on the central nervous system.
Why Not Grow Organic Grapes?
If you find organic grapes to be too expensive then why not plant a couple of vines in your backyard. Many years ago, it was common place to have a grape vine growing over your pergola. That seems to have gone out of fashion but grapes are relatively easy to grow and are suitable for most regions in Australia.
Home grown grapes are delicious - you can't beat the taste and you know exactly which chemicals have been used on them (hopefully none). I have two vines in my backyard and that is more than enough for a small family.
Organic Quinoa - Superfood
October 17th, 2006
Quinoa is a grain crop which originated from South America. It is a staple food in Peru and Bolivia where it is used instead of potato or maize. It is highly nutritious, so much so that the United Nations has declared it a 'super crop'. It is very high in protein and contains essential amino acids which are not found in wheat or rice. It is also high in vitamins such as magnesium and iron. It is becoming more popular in Australia due to these reasons, along with the fact that it is high in dietary fibre and is gluten free.
How To Cook Quinoa
Quinoa is easy to prepare and can be used as a substitute for rice or couscous. Most quinoa, which you will find in your supermarket or health food store, will have already have had the saponin (it's bitter coating) removed so all you'll need to do is cook it with the same absorption method as you would use to cook rice. The simplest way to prepare quinoa is to cook it in a rice cooker.
Once cooked you can add vegetables and seasonings or serve it with a casserole or stew.
Quinoa is often also eaten for breakfast as you would eat corn flakes or you can have it cooked with honey, nuts, and milk much in the same way as you'd eat oatmeal.
Quinoa can also be used in products in place of or in addition to wheat flour. An example of this is organic pasta with quinoa.
Quinoa is easy to use and is a healthy alternative to rice, potato, and wheat products. It is a nutritious addition to any diet and it's mild, nutty flavour means most people will be happy to eat it
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission . (Source)
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