Industry call for better product labelling of imported food

Food groups are calling for better food labelling to help shoppers identify imported foods. 

INDUSTRY groups have called for better product labelling to help shoppers identify imported foods.

In the wake of a Federal Government announcement of a country-of-origin labelling inquiry, Roy Morgan research indicates that consumers are “aware of the benefits of buying Aussie products, and of the impact that their purchasing behaviour has on jobs, local business and future opportunities.”

Almost $2 billion worth of foreign fruit, vegetables and nuts landed on our shores last year.

Apple and Pear Australia Limited Industry Services Manager Annie Farrow said stronger labelling laws were needed so shoppers could make informed decisions.

“The current ‘Made in Australia’ label can be a little confusing, if not outright misleading,” she said.

“It can actually mean that all the ingredients are imported, and simply mixed or packaged in Australia.

“Worse, under current legislation ‘Made in Australia’ can be used in labelling processed fruit or juice if more than 50 per cent of the value of the product is added in Australia, regardless of where the fruit comes from.”

Australian Made Campaign chief executive Ian Harrison said it was wrong imports that underwent minor processes here such as juicing, dicing and slicing, crumbing or coating could be termed Made in Australia or Australian Made.

Ritchies Supermarkets has rolled out Aussie-branded bays within aisles to highlight SPC Ardmona’s locally grown and made canned fruit and baked beans in its 70 stores.

SPC, which received a $22 million assistance package from the state government, claims more than 70 per cent of canned tomatoes bought in Australia are imported.

AusVeg spokesman Hugh Gurney urged shoppers to buy more Australian vegetables.

“Cheap imports from countries such as China and New Zealand are creating problems for the Australian vegetable processing industry, which has seen a number of operations cease over the past two years,” he said.

Coles and Woolworths said 96 per cent of all fresh produce they sell is grown in Australia.

Coles said its SmartBuy frozen vegetables and potato products are now 100 per cent Australian grown.

Woolworths has teamed with SPC Ardmona to source Select brand tinned fruit and tomatoes. Its Select frozen vegetables will be 100 per cent Australian-supplied by May.

WHERE YOUR FOOD COMES FROM

Frozen vegetable imports

1. Prepared potatoes $98m

2. Vegetable mixes $38m

3. Peas $26m

4. Other vegetables $21m

5. Sweet corn $14m

FROZEN VEGETABLE IMPORTS BY COUNTRY

1. New Zealand $111m

2. Holland $30m

3. China $27m

4. United States $22m

5. Belgium $20m

PROCESSED VEGETABLE IMPORTS

1. Italy $80m

2. China $36m

3. New Zealand $31m

4. United States $29m