Information, News and Views From Kombu Online...This news is sourced from a variety of news sources and is shared on this site as part of our policy of proactively working to create a better world for us and our children. Links to some of the sites from where we access our news can be found on our Useful Links page.
Older Food News items are archived on our Food News Archive page.
We update this page regularly. If you have any news to share please let us know.
Last update: 26th June 2009
|
New film exposes unsavoury side of US food industrywhen the much-anticipated documentary Food, Inc. opens this week, many may find themselves unable to finish their snacks as the film exposes some unsavoury realities about how food reaches the dinner table.
"There are no seasons in the American supermarket", a voice intones in the opening scene as a camera swept past supermarket shelves groaning with plump-breasted chickens, perfect cuts of meat and bountiful fruit, vegetables and grains.
Major food producers would not agree to be interviewed for the movie and they tried to ban the filmmakers from their stock yards, pig farms and chicken barns.
But the producers fought off law suits, grabbing headlines and impressive reviews as they aim to do for the food industry what former Vice President Al Gore's controversial documentary An Inconvenient Truth did for debate about climate change.
Read the full Daily Telegraph article here.
|
GE wheat threat looms GE in your daily bread? There will be if the biotechnology industry gets its way.
It has been clear for some time that genetically engineered (GE) canola is just the door opener crop in Australia and the real prize that the biotechnology industry has its eyes on is GE wheat.
On 14 May a number of industry organisations from the US, Canada and Australia announced that they intend to work together to commercialise GE wheat crops. The agreement is an attempt to align the countries against any international backlash if GE wheat is introduced and to invite seed development companies to press ahead with GE wheat development.
Although other GE crops have been in use for several years, there is currently not a single GE wheat variety commercially available. Monsanto first attempted to commercialise GE wheat in Canada and the US in 2004. It was forced to abandon its attempt due to the overwhelming consumer resistance to GE wheat, particularly in Europe. Now it appears GE wheat is back on the agenda again.
Most of the GE crops currently grown sneak their way into the food chain unlabelled, in the form of highly processed ingredients or animal feed. However, products made from GE wheat, such as bread and pasta, would have to be labelled and therefore consumers simply wouldn’t buy them.
Alarmingly, the fact that there is no market for GE wheat anywhere in the world and no benefits associated with the crop doesn’t seem to worry the Grains Council of Australia, the Grain Growers Association, and the Pastoralists and Graziers Association of Western Australia – who all signed the industry statement.
According to Julie Newman from the Network of Concerned Farmers (NCF) "the introduction of GE wheat is nothing short of industry sabotage as markets do not want it."
Jerry Klassen, an independent grain analyst criticised the announcement. "This is a blind decision (by the farmer groups) without talking to the customer first," he said.
The Canadian Wheat Board also raised concerns about the potential introduction of GE wheat. It points out that there is no way to effectively segregate GE wheat from non-GE wheat. The introduction of GE wheat would therefore remove choice for both consumers and farmers. Which of course is exactly the biotechnology industry’s intention. It knows that the only way it can get consumers to stomach GE wheat is by completely eliminating choice. Hence the need for Australia, the US and Canada to start growing GE wheat at the same time. Let’s make sure we don’t let it happen!
Want to help stop GE Wheat? Join the True Food Campaign here...
|
Australian Govt to 'kill' organic stampTHE Federal Government's apparent wish to abolish Australia's only enforceable organic standard will kill the industry, growers say.
The National Standard for Organic and Biodynamic Produce will no longer be enforced by the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service for the export of organic goods - and the standard and its logo will cease to exist - if the Government's preferred option for changes to AQIS is adopted.
Critics say the replacement standard is weaker, will not be internationally recognised, and will create a free-for-all where any product can be sold as organic in Australia.
While the national standard was not enforceable by law at retail level, growers said it provided incentive to do the right thing and a point of comparison.
An AQIS Organic Industry Export Consultative Committee briefing obtained by The Weekly Times reveals the Government is considering four options, but states it prefers option is to disband its organic program.
Read the full Weekly Times article here.
|
Schools cafeterias may offer healthier optionsSANTA CRUZ - Santa Cruz City Schools is aiming to banish greasy pizza and soggy chicken nuggets from school cafeterias as part of an initiative to offer more healthy options during school lunch.
Santa Cruz City Schools Assistant Superintendent Richard Moss said he will recommend on Wednesday that Oakland-based Revolution Foods to provide fresh, organic food for five area schools. The company would serve students fresh, organic meals.
Read the full article here.
|
Superweeds threatens MonsantoThe gospel of high-tech genetically modified (GM) crops is not sounding quite so sweet in the land of the converted. A new pest, the evil pigweed, is hitting headlines and chomping its way across Sun Belt states, threatening to transform cotton and soybean plots into weed battlefields.
In late 2004, superweeds that resisted Monsanto’s iconic Roundup herbicide, popped up in GM crops in the county of Macon, Georgia. Monsanto, the US multinational biotech corporation, is the world’s leading producer of Roundup, as well as genetically engineered seeds.
According to Monsanto press releases, company sales representatives are encouraging farmers to mix glyphosate and older herbicides such as 2,4-D, a herbicide which was banned in Sweden, Denmark and Norway over its links to cancer, reproductive harm and mental impairment...
Read the full France 24 article here
|
 GM Food - Does Not Feed The WorldFor years the biotechnology industry has trumpeted that it will feed the world, promising that its genetically engineered crops will produce higher yields.
That promise has proven to be empty, according to Failure to Yield, a report by UCS expert Doug Gurian-Sherman released in March 2009. Despite 20 years of research and 13 years of commercialization, genetic engineering has failed to significantly increase U.S. crop yields.
In addition, recent studies have shown that organic and similar farming methods that minimize the use of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers can more than double crop yields at little cost to poor farmers in developing regions.
Download the full report here (PDF)
|
Fake Organics? New Standard Here SoonMANY products sold in Australia as "organic" may soon not qualify to go under that label.
And the finger has been pointed at supermarkets for failing to properly verify whether products they sell are truly organic.
Discussions are almost complete on a national organic standard, but negotiations have split the industry as opposing groups argue over whether products from animals fed synthetic foodstuff should be labeled organic.
Organic egg grower Ivy Inwood said consumers were being tricked into buying non-genuine produce.
"Woolworths and Coles are at fault for accepting the product and selling it as organic. They say 'drop your price, we can buy them cheaper' - that's because (some producers) are half doing it and using synthetics."
Excerpts from a full article which can be found in the online Weekly Times
|
Restoring Earth, Restoring HealthMANILA, Philippines Farmers do not produce the food of life. Farmers merely assist nature. The real farmer is the soil, says Masanobu Fukuoka, a Ramon Magsaysay awardee for natural organic agriculture (NOA). He says the objective of organic farming is to return food production to nature.
Modern agriculture as we know it is just another processing industry that produces commercial foods that are poor imitations of natural organic food. Until our farmers learn natural, organic agriculture, consumers will continue to suffer the consequences of modern-day farming, which include:
* Diminished soil productivity.
* Disease-causing foods resulting from continued use of chemical fertilizers and toxic herbicides and pesticides.
* Food insecurity for the people arising from high cost of chemical fertilizers and inputs.
* Lower farmers’ income due to the rising cost of fuel and transportation of farm produce.
* Contamination of water tables and soil pollution because of toxic agrichemical inputs.
This agricultural practice will ultimately affect food safety and nutrition.
Organically grown food is not only free from toxic chemicals but their nutrients are also intact because of the natural healthy soil where these foods are grown and cultivated.
Read the full inquirer.net article here.
|
Organic Dairy Farming Saves HUGE Fertiliser TotalA Colorado-based nonprofit has created a calculator that estimates the amount of chemicals avoided through organic dairy farming in the U.S.
According to the Organic Center, organic milk production in the U.S. avoided 18 000 tonnes of fertilizer in 2008. The 761,000 acres of organic feed cropland or organic pasture also dodged the use of 341 tonnes of pesticides. Cows were also given 1.7 million fewer drug treatments, including antibiotics and hormones!
Source: greenbiz.com
|
Liz Hurley and Prince Charles Team UpBritish model-actress Elizabeth Hurley is teaming up with Prince Charles to launch a new line of organic foods.
The "modern, healthy, organic food" line will launch in October, Hurley's spokesperson said today. The range will be sold by Prince Charles's sustainable food company, Duchy Originals, with offerings such as pork, poultry, lamb, and rare breed beef, as well as organic grains harvested at Hurley's 400-acre organic farm in western England.
|
Organics Here To Stay!ORGANIC produce will continue to grow market share in Australia, but at a much slower rate than it has overseas, according to Frank Costa.
The fresh produce magnate and Geelong Football Club president speaking at a Rural Press Club lunch yesterday.
He said conventionally-grown produce was seen by some consumers as disadvantaged due to the use of pesticides and fertilisers.
Read the full Gelong Examiner article here
|
Organics Better for Long Term GrowthOrganic farming methods, with their potential to offset input costs and lower carbon emissions, are attracting increasing attention as scientists and farmers accept that "organics" is not a short-lived fad.
Organic agriculture is getting a boost from other quarters, though, with a growing body of research suggesting that in some situations, organic methods can match yields from conventional practices in good times, and better conventional in dry times.
Unfortunately, very little of that research comes from Australia, where according to Mr Leu direct Commonwealth investment in organic research and development amounts to around $300,000.
In the United States, where several long-term studies have been conducted, organics has been shown to struggle for productivity against conventional systems in earlier years, but after five or so years of developing soil health, organic methodology begins to shine.
The US Agricultural Research Service (ARS) compared organic with no-till cropping for nine years, and then when that study was complete used the trial plots for another three years to determine the most productive soils.
The organic soils contained more carbon and nitrogen, and yielded 18pc more corn than the no-till plots, a result that ARS lead scientist John Teasdale admitted wouldn't have been apparent within a shorter time frame, when the organic soils hadn't fully formed.
SOURCE: Farm Online Stock and Land
|
 Consumers demand one organic symbolMore than 70 per cent of organic food buyers say they would prefer to have one, new certification symbol used by all organisations, compared with only 14 per cent who prefer to continue with different certification symbols.
The research conducted by Newspoll found that changing to one, new certification symbol is generally viewed as easier, clearer and less confusing. Having one symbol is also viewed as being easier to recognise and remember, and as having a clearer and stronger meaning.
Some also saw it as providing confirmation of uniformity in certification procedures by certification organisations.
The Newspoll was commissioned by the Organic Federation of Australia, the peak body for the organic sector and was conducted nationally among main grocery buyers.
Regular organic food buyers were asked to rate the current system of having eight different certification symbols on a scale from 0 to 10, where 0 is very confusing and hard to identify organic foods and 10 is very clear and simple to identify organic foods.
Their average rating was only 3.1 out of 10. "The research showed very poor awareness of most of the certification symbols and that the words Certified Organic were important in guiding consumer awareness about genuine organic products, said Andre Leu, chair of the Organic Federation.
"The experience from around the world shows that having one symbol to identify organic products generates a huge increase in sales.
The survey was conducted among 966 main grocery buyers nationally aged 18 years and over.
Source: OFA / BFA
|
Climate right for organic food surgeWith climate change, environmentalism and health on the minds of many Australians, organic food is very much in vogue.
A survey conducted by Newspoll has revealed that 61% Australian grocery buyers buy some organic products.
The poll was commissioned by the Organic Federation of Australia, the peak body for the organic sector and was conducted nationally among nearly 1,000 shoppers.
A previous survey, conducted in 2003 by the University of Central Queensland, showed that 43% of consumers purchased organic products.
"This is a 50% increase in buyers in 5 years and confirms the other data that ‘organic' is the fastest growing food category in the world." Andre Leu, Chairman of the Organic Federation of Australia said.
SOURCE: Streem
|
 New Push for GM FoodsA massive PR push is once more underway - thanks to the food crisis, promoting GM foods as the way to feed the world. So a new campaigning website www.banGMfood.org has been launched to provide a tool kit for fighting back. The site includes easy-to-read downloadable leaflets with all the latest evidence and up-to-date arguments on the dangers of GMOs and why there are far better alternatives for feeding the world. The site also has details of exactly who to contact to make sure your views are heard, plus loads of links and other campaigning information.
Ban GM Foods Website
|
 Demand for organic bananasTHE Far North is poised to tap into the growing demand for organic produce with Dole Australia gearing up to increase production of organic banana.
The international company, which is growing plots of organic banana in Walkamin on the Tableland and in the Daintree, said demand was outstripping production.
Production manager Marc Jackson told The Cairns Post organics was a healthy and sustainable industry to be in and the company planned to expand production.
Source: www.cairns.com.au
|
Miessence - Healthy Natural NicheIT turns out beauty is more than skin deep: as the number of people who are concerned about toxins in our environment grows, more cosmetic companies are jumping on the natural and organic bandwagon.
The trend towards organic brands continues as overall organic retailing grows at 30 per cent a year in Australia.
There are benefits to organic skincare, according to Narelle Chenery, 37, founder of organic skin care success story Miessence. "We've got the top edge of the eco-conscious consumer, but the base is growing.''
With revenues running at $15 million this year and more than 100 products in the market, the organic skin care industry has proved a lucrative edge for Narelle and her two partners, Colin (her husband) and Alf Orpen.
With more than 600 stores stocking organic products in Australia and 36,000 in the world, this niche market is looking decidedly healthy.
Chenery first began her foray into organic ingredients about 10 years ago when she realised most products making natural claims still contained synthetic toxins. She says up to 99 per cent of "natural' ingredients are actually synthetically processed after being derived from a natural source.
"Not only were products not natural, but many of them were using ingredients that were not safe. I looked for products that were truly natural but couldn't find any, so I thought I would make some myself.''
The Miessence range of skin or personal care range is cold-extracted from organic fruit, beeswax, honey, avocado oil, nuts, seeds and herbs, and is never exposed to heat during formulation.
Chenery says the overwhelming response to her brand demonstrates a market appetite for products that "feed the skin naturally'' and that most consumers are eager to improve their understanding of the toxic properties of chemical ingredients. "There's not one harmful chemical in miessence. You could eat them,'' Chenery says.
A range of Miessence products are available here at Kombu.
Click here for full Australian Newspaper article
|
GM Crops derided from royal throne to Australian kitchens and backA diverse range of influential people are entering the GM debate, strongly opposing the use of genetically modified crops as a potential solution to world food shortages.
Prince Charles, organic agriculture advocate, has nominated the mass development of genetically modified crops as the world’s worst environmental disaster, and says multi-national companies trialling gene manipulation are engaging in a "gigantic experiment with nature and the whole of humanity which I think has gone seriously wrong".
And he mentioned the effects of hybrid crops of Australia as a worst-case-scenario in particular.
"Western Australia has huge salinisation problems which have come from some of the excessive approaches to modern forms of agriculture."
His comments have been nominated his most outspoken intervention on the issue of GM food so far, with the Prince expressing fear that - far from being a solution to world hunger - food would in fact run out due to the damage on the earth's soil by scientists' research.
He said in the future relying on "gigantic corporations" for food, would result in "absolute disaster".
"We have gone working against nature for too long - this is a classic way of ensuring there is no food in the future" he said, noting focusing on food security was not the same as focusing on food production.
More Info: BFA
|
Forum tackles GM farm threatsBLINDING self-interest is the only motivation behind the Victorian Government’s insistence on pushing genetically modified farming on to central Victoria, Bendigo Mayor David Jones said yesterday.
‘‘The people who think the science is in on genetic engineering are the very same people who think the science is not in on climate change,’’ Cr Jones said.
‘‘We need to send a strong message to all sides of politics.’’ Cr Jones said the City of Greater Bendigo Council will sponsor a forum on Friday, bringing together farmers, scientists and anti-GM activists to highlight the impact of introducing genetically modified canola crops to central Victoria since a government moratorium was lifted six months ago. Previously The Advertiser has reported a decrease in plantings of canola, generally, in central Victoria due to dry weather conditions.
Cr Jones said lifting the moratorium was even more frustrating because central Victoria has so few canola growers, but it has a growing organic food sector, as well as conventional farming industries, whose markets would be seriously affected by contamination from GM farming nearby.
Source / Full Story: Bendigo Advertiser
|
FDA Approves More IrradiationAfter two years of nearly constant food-borne illness outbreaks and recalls of everything from tainted peanut butter to tons of hamburger meat, the United States Food and Drug Administration's decision last week to allow the irradiation of lettuce and spinach to kill dangerous bacteria didn't surprise anyone in the food industry.
Nor did it solve a long-simmering debate over whether the agency's penchant for prescribing such technical fixes to biological problems makes sense. There are strong feelings on both sides of the argument, and the lettuce/spinach decision brought them once again to the surface.
Zapping spinach and iceberg lettuce with a tiny shot of radiation is an effective way to prevent deadly outbreaks of E. coli, according to the FDA, which says it's safe. But not everyone agrees.
"It's the latest in a series of PR moves designed to mislead the public from the fact that the government is asleep at the wheel here," said Ronnie Cummins, national director of the Organic Consumers Association, an organic food watchdog group.
SOURCE / Full Story: Chicago Tribune
|
Just right for the garden: a mini-cowIt's the little cow with a big future. Rising supermarket prices are persuading hundreds of families to turn their back gardens into mini-ranches stocked with miniature cattle.
Registrations of the most popular breed, the Dexter, have doubled since the millennium and websites are sprouting up offering the world’s most efficient, cutest and tastiest cows.
For between £200 and £2,000, people can buy a cow that stands no taller than a large German shepherd dog, gives 16 pints of milk a day that can be drunk unpasteurised, keeps the grass mown and will be a family pet for years before ending up in the freezer.
Source: Sunday Times, UK - click for full article
|
Organic food ‘good for you’ says EUThe European Commission has launched a campaign to inform consumers of the benefits of organic food and support those involved in the ever-growing organic market.
The promotional campaign focuses on increasing awareness of organic produce among young people to ensure a future market for organic, under its main slogan: "Organic farming: Good for nature, good for you."
Aside from the main slogan, the Commission has developed a list of slogans and key messages for use by professionals, such as: “Organic farming. The natural choice”; “Organic farming. In nature we trust”; “Organic farming. In goodness we trust”; and “Organic products meet consumer demand for authentic, high quality and tasty food”.
It has also announced a competition to develop a new organic faming logo, which will be compulsory on all organic products in Europe from mid-2010, as long as long as at least 95 per cent of the ingredients are organic.
The campaign has been launched within the framework of the European Action Plan for Organic Food and Farming, which also sets out 21 initiatives for developing the organic market and improving standards by increasing efficiency and transparency and thereby increasing consumer confidence.
Read the full article on FoodNavigator.com
|
How to be a budget organicWith all the news about rising food costs, you may be wondering if the organic milk you've been putting in your cart is worth the extra cash. It is. Organic food is more expensive, but when it comes to the staples of your diet, organics are a worthwhile investment, with payoffs that might surprise you. The benefits influence your health today, and long-term.
Want to know more? Full article here :-)
|
