Greens lay complaints over food labelling

Green Party MP Sue Kedgley today lodged two complaints with the Commerce Commission, alleging that consumers are being misled by product labelling on imported produce.

"Many consumers want to know whether the food they purchase comes from New Zealand or from overseas. This is especially the case with whole foods such as meat, fish, fruit and vegetables.

One of the complaints relates to Kiwi Bacon and alleges that ordinary New Zealanders are misled by the use of the word Kiwi on the label into believing that it comes from New Zealand pork.

The second complaint relates to the broader issue of the widespread practice of not declaring on a label where food comes from, particularly fresh food, and alleges this is causing widespread confusion amongst consumers.

The failure to identify on a label that fresh produce is imported is a deceptive practice which breaches the Fair Trading Act, Ms Kedgley says.

"In the absence of any label on meat, for example, most ordinary consumers will assume that it is New Zealand meat, even if it is imported. The same applies to most fresh fruit and vegetables.

"For example, last year we imported $10.8 million worth of lamb from Australia and $87.4 million worth of pork and pork products from Canada the United States and Australia. However, without country of origin labelling consumers have no way of knowing where all this meat has gone.

"There are a variety of reasons why consumers would want to know where the food they are eating comes from and this information should be provided to them as of right.

"The Australian Government has determined that its consumers have this right, I can't see why New Zealanders should continue to be kept in the dark."