Soil & Health
Association of New Zealand Inc (est 1941) Healthy
Soil - Healthy Food - Healthy People |
New Zealand's leading source of information on Organics & Sustainable Living
Country of Origin Labelling (CoOL)Recently the New Zealand Food Safety Authority’s Consumer Forum, at which Soil & Health is an active participant, unanimously supported Country of Origin Labelling. Currently a petition collecting signatures to try and get Government support for CoOL is focused on single component foods, such as meat, seafood, fruit and vegetables. Foodstuffs has introduced CoOL into its supermarkets for fish, meat, fruit and vegetables and Sanitarium has differentiated Australian peanuts and Chinese peanuts in their peanut butter products. All organic processors, wholesalers and retailers must ensure they match these leads. The petition is available for hardcopy printing from the Green Party website: Peter Alexander of Chantal Organic Wholesalers has an in-house labelling system for their Kai Ora brand multi component foods that allows quick changes when components country of origin varies. This example shows that contrary to food industry and government claims, costs and compliance are not insurmountable for label changes. Consumers deserve better than those almost valueless ‘Contains Imported Ingredients’ labels. Chantal are to be congratulated for their approach. The safe food base of the Country of Origin Labelling argument needs to be broadened to consumers right to choose on political, (Rainbow Warrior stopped me buying French for some time), democracy, social justice, environmental practices (eg, forest clearance, Yangtze dolphin, whaling), perceived risks (Chernobyl effects on parts of Europe). The links between fair production, and environmental and food safety issues are often closely connected, and ethical consumer choice and preference for local product should not be restricted. Yes we are a trading nation, but true free trade must surely be based on full information and choice. Steffan Browning Soil & Health Association Spokesperson September 2007 |
|
Soil & Health
Association of New Zealand Inc (est 1941) Healthy
Soil - Healthy Food - Healthy People |
