This loophole in your food delivery app may be a hazard to your health
In November 2022, it was recognised by all states and territories that a national approach to menu labelling was required and agreed on the development of a policy guideline. “Food Standards Australia New Zealand have been requested to prepare a proposal for a food regulatory measure for menu labelling under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.
Supermarket review recommends huge fines, mandatory code for Woolies and Coles
Australia’s major supermarkets could face fines that run into the billions of dollars if they fail to comply with a revamped and mandatory code of conduct designed to protect farmers and families. An interim review of the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct, to be released on Monday, has the country’s big four supermarket retailers and wholesalers – Woolworths, Coles, Aldi and Metcash, which supplies IGA – squarely in its sights with a series of recommendations designed to deliver cheaper prices for consumers and fairer prices at the farm gate.
Political rhetoric on supermarkets went further than mandatory code
Many Australians have run out of money and sympathy for major supermarket chains but the first of an array of inquiries aimed at promoting competition has arrived and raised hopes of an eventual check on checkout prices.
Inquiry into supermarkets says make voluntary code of conduct mandatory but don’t bring in divestiture power
The inquiry rejects the recommendation from former ACCC head Allan Fels’ inquiry into price gouging for a power to force divestiture to address market power issues. Divestiture could result in greater market concentration, or other problems, the Emerson report says. “This review’s recommendations to make the code mandatory, with heavy penalties for major breaches will, alongside effective enforcement of the existing competition laws, constitute a far more credible deterrent to anti-competitive behaviour than forced divestiture laws.”
Supermarket prices under pressure in new grocery code
Consumer advocacy organisation CHOICE said Emerson’s interim report was recognition that voluntary codes were ineffective. “Unfortunately, big businesses need strong incentives to comply with the law,” said CHOICE director of campaigns Rosie Thomas, who also called for stronger merger laws. “This highlights why it’s important we have those merger laws right first, to stop supermarkets and other businesses growing bigger and more powerful in ways that harm consumers.”
Cultural burning is better for Australian soils than prescribed burning, or no burning at all
In our new research, we compared cultural burning to agency-led prescribed burning or no burning. We studied the effects on soil properties such as moisture content, density and nutrient levels.
Both fire treatments increased soil moisture and organic matter, while reducing soil density. That means burning improved soil health overall. But cultural burning was the best way to boost soil carbon and nitrogen while also reducing soil density, which improves the soil’s ability to nurture plants.
Indigenous fire management began more than 11,000 years ago: new research
Wildfire burns between 3.94 million and 5.19 million square kilometres of land every year worldwide. If that area were a single country, it would be the seventh largest in the world. In Australia, most fire occurs in the vast tropical savannas of the country’s north. In new research published in Nature Geoscience, we show Indigenous management of fire in these regions began at least 11,000 years ago – and possibly as long as 40,000 years ago.
The Gomeroi win puts native title holders in a stronger position to fight fossil fuel projects on their land
In a significant win for the Gomeroi People, the Federal Court has ruled climate change impacts must be properly considered when determining whether a fossil fuel project can go ahead on native title land.
More Than That Vegemite Sandwich. Australian Songs and Poems About Food.
In 2008 I gave a paper to the 16th Symposium of Australian Gastronomy in the Hunter Valley. The theme of the paper was Australian songs about food and rivers. In an idle moment recently I thought why not do something of a follow-up and ask Facebook Friends ‘What song or poem do you know that is about food in Australia?’ This is the write up of the project.
