Food labelling in Australia is woefully inadequate and this results in consumers purchasing products that they would not choose to buy if a thorough compulsory labelling system existed.

The Greens are campaigning for a comprehensive mandatory labelling regime to establish truth in labelling of food products to protect consumers. For example, some common food products that people would assume were vegetarian or vegan may contain animal products. This was revealed in The “Label to Liable” report released by voiceless in May 2007 http://www.voiceless.org.au/ Some emulsifiers in bread, natural flavours added to baked beans and potato chips, gelatine used in beer and some wine production, and some confectionary are foods that contain animal products without proper labelling of these contents.

Other areas of food labelling that are inadequate include, organic foods, and whether or not anti-biotics have been used in the production of food such as farmed seafood.

Media:

• For all John's media releases about food labelling, click here