6 SEPTEMBER 2016 NEWS SNIPS Vegans in Auckland are being cyber-bullied by non-vegans for their lifestyle choices, including life-threatening violence The world’s first pretzel-shaped cracker has been released by Tauranga-based Taste HQ NZ, combining the flavour and crunch of a pretzel in a modern lighter, crispier version Giving breastfeeding mothers monthly highdose vitamin D supplements may be a possible way to improve their babies’ vitamin D status, says Otago University Kiwi food and beverage company Little Island Coconut Creamery is moving into exports of coconut milk, kicking off in Australia and then expanding into California early next year N E W S FOOD SAFETY LAW REFORM BILL ON ITS WAY Food Safety Minister Jo Goodhew says the Food Safety Law Reform Bill is on its way, after passing its first reading in Parliament with unanimous support. The Bill is the final step in implementing the Whey Protein Concentrate (WPC) Inquiry recommendations, in particular those which require legislative change. “This Bill is an important part of putting the false Botulism scare behind us. It illustrates the Government’s commitment to ensuring the safety and suitability of food, which is vitally important for the health of consumers – both in New Zealand and overseas – and our international trade reputation,” Goodhew says. “Food and beverage exports account for 60 per cent of our merchandise exports, generating $27 billion of export income in 2015 and employing nearly 80,000 people. It is vital that we do all we can to protect our reputation as a supplier of safe and suitable food, both domestically and internationally, by ensuring all steps have been taken to address the recommendations of the independent inquiry.” The Bill standardises enforcement tools from the recently passed Food Act through into the Animal Products and Wine Acts, meaning that regulators have similar tools available to encourage behaviour change and deal swiftly with operators who do not comply. “I welcome the opportunity for New Zealanders to have their say on this Bill, when the Primary Production Committee begins accepting submissions in the next few weeks,” Goodhew says. PLAIN PACKAGING ANGST NEW ZEALAND Beverage Council president Olly Munro says calls to plain-package sugar-sweetened beverages is unhelpful in the wider conversation over the part salt, sugar and fat play in a healthy lifestyle. University of Auckland researchers spoke to ‘children’ (aged 13 – 24) about how plain packaging, warning labels and/ or pricing increases would impact their buying decisions. “Interestingly, pricing (which implies an increase by taxation) came out last,” Munro says. “The vast majority of people surveyed are not in fact ‘children’. In addition, we do not think it is useful to the wider debate to focus on universally untested ‘solutions’ like plain packaging for soft drinks.” AUSTRALIAN DRINKING WATER QUENCHES CHINA’S THIRST Irrigation is not to blame for increasing the risk of drinking water concerns, and IrrigationNZ says Greenpeace has well and truly stepped over the line with its claims that Havelock North’s water issues might be exacerbated by irrigation schemes. Chief executive Andrew Curtis says Greenpeace should be discredited by their claims. “The reasons why Havelock North’s drinking water is contaminated are yet to be determined. There is no evidence at all that irrigation or intensive agriculture have contributed,” Curtis says. “The area surrounding the water supply is dominated by vineyards, orchards, cropping and low intensity livestock…a far cry from Greenpeace’s allegation of industrial dairying supported by large scale irrigation. Scaremongering around future threats from the Ruataniwha irrigation scheme and industrial dairy is pure lies. Almost all the new irrigation will be traditional Hawke’s Bay mixed cropping farms and horticulture, drought proofing the food they produce.” Curtis says the inquiry should take place without inflammatory and dangerous comment, and he is pleading for “cheap shots with un-informed accusations that have the potential to further alarm the public” to cease. HIGH quality Australian drinking water is being touted as the perfect companion product to help quench China’s thirst for ‘clean and green’ infant milk powder. South Australian company PH8 has captured the Asian market attention after winning a gold medal at the 5th China International Highend Drinking Water Industry Expo 2016 in July, resulting in talks with a Victorian powdered milk producer to export its high alkaline water to China as a companion product. Demand for high quality powdered milk from Australia, which is perceived as being clean and green by Chinese consumers, has skyrocketed since 2008 when six babies died and 300,000 became ill after drinking contaminated Chinese formula linked to Fonterra, PH8 managing director Kym Dickeson says. “The Chinese are looking for anything that is Western and quality. They search far and wide for fresh products and fresh milks. They are looking to evaluate the water, what they can add that to. This is how far they go to get fresh milk.” The proposed deal includes exporting 10 litre casks accompanied by a small cache of powdered milk to Chinese supermarkets. PH8’s water – high in potassium, calcium, magnesium, silica and selenium - is filtered naturally through black limestone on Yorke Peninsula about 110km west of Adelaide and collected in a large aquifer over 12-14 months. IRRIGATIONNZ HOPPING MAD AT GREENPEACE CLAIMS OFFER IS VALID FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY! SIGN UP FOR YOUR FREE DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION www.foodtechnology.co.nz
FT-Sep16
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