A Coronial inquest has today established that asparagus sauce was to blame for the death of a diner at a popular Sydney restaurant. 81-year-old William Hodgins died last January just 12 hours after eating a meal which was covered in an asparagus sauce laced with bacteria. Two other people who ate the same meal also fell ill but have since recovered. It was found that the sauce, served at Tables restaurant in Pymble, NSW, was made the day before it was served to Mr Hodgins and left out for too long... ...Read more »
Leading dairy companies Fonterra and National Foods are reportedly discussing the option of a joint bid for Australian dairy co-operative Dairy Farmers. Both companies have already sought ACCC approval for separate bids but a deal between the two is now in the offing. The idea would likely suit Fonterra as their desire to engage in a bidding war would have been reduced by their recent purchase of Nestlé’s Australian dessert and yoghurt operations. It is rumoured that the NZ dairy giant... ...Read more »
The United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), Mars, Incorporated, and IBM are combining their scientific resources to sequence and analyze the entire cocoa genome. Sequencing the cocoa genome is viewed by the organizations as a significant scientific step that may allow more directed breeding of cocoa plants and potentially enhance the quality of cocoa - the key ingredient in chocolate. The collaboration hopes to enable farmers to plant better quality... ...Read more »
The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has supported the reforms to NSW trading hours, which are due to come into effect on July 1, but acknowledge that it may create a delicate balance for smaller retailers. Currently retail trading hours throughout NSW are regulated under the Shops and Industries Act 1962 (the Act) but the Shop Trading Bill 2008, which was passed through parliament on June 17, is set to ‘modernise’ this legislation. The Bill will de-regulate shop trading... ...Read more »
Two leading New Zealand based primary producers have announced the signing of a heads of agreement with PGG Wrightson to purchase a 50 per cent stake in Silver Fern Farms. PGG Wrightson, a rural servicing firm, and Silver Ferns, a meat marketing and processing co-operative, believe the deal will create an improved and more integrated supply chain. “There are very clear synergies, in terms of cost and performance benefits, that both parties bring to the table,” SFF Chairman Eoin Garden... ...Read more »
Leading consumer advocate, CHOICE, claims there is an urgent need for a clear and national description of free-range eggs after their investigation found the big producers have redefined the term to suit themselves. Their study also found issues with the freshness levels of free range eggs sold. CHOICE advises there’s no legal definition of ‘free-range’ eggs and the Australian Egg Corporation’s standards don’t meet those recommended by animal welfare organisations. “We... ...Read more »
Despite global agricultural commodities at record prices - as the latest Westpac-NFF Commodity Index reveals prices 16% higher than a year ago - Australian farmers are beset by soaring farm input costs, persistent drought, labour shortages and a dollar that keeps climbing.Westpac’s Senior Agribusiness Economist, Justin Smirk said with Australian farmers exporting 61% of everything they produce, the rising Aussie dollar is crimping returns. “As one of Australia’s most trade-exposed... ...Read more »
A new campaign has been launched in the UK challenging businesses and the public sector to end so-called ‘greenwash’ by achieving the new “Carbon Trust Standard” certificate - the only way for organisations to prove they are tackling climate change and have made genuine reductions in their carbon emissions. The ‘UK Carbon Trust’ has come up with the initiative as the global environmental movement gathers pace. In Australia the ACCC has become concerned over ‘greenwashing’... ...Read more »
Competition in the Australian restaurant industry is about to get fiercer as Gordon Ramsay has announced his intentions to operate restaurants in Melbourne and Sydney. The British celebrity chef, who has a cult following in Australia thanks to the remarkable success of ‘Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares’, has ended the speculation about which market he would enter first, by advising that he anticipates opening his first Australian restaurant in Melbourne within 18 months. ”I don’t... ...Read more »
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Chairman, Mr Graeme Samuel, today launched a set of ACCC guidance materials on carbon offsets claims. The launch of new guidelines has been made to deal with concerns about marketers overstating the improvements organisations have made to their company to offset carbon emissions. “There is a growing trend of marketing claims about the ability to ‘neutralise’ the carbon footprint of, for example, cars, flights and households... ...Read more »