The Australian Government’s recently introduced food labelling regulations require food manufacturers nationally to reveal the country-of-origin of the ingredients in their grocery items. Set on a sliding scale, Australian consumers will now be able to see what proportion of the ingredients in the grocery items they’re purchasing are locally grown.
How will this affect Australian food manufacturers?
The new food labels will force Australian food manufacturers to clearly identify which grocery items are “Grown”, “Packed” or “Made” in Australia, using an easily identifiable green and gold labelling system. (http://www.foodlabels.industry.gov.au/)
Up until now these details were generally disclosed in the fine print, which many consumers would have overlooked. It also means that food manufacturers will no longer be able to import ingredients and add these to their grocery items if they want to fulfil the conditions of a food product being 100 per cent “Australian Made” – as it’s mandatory to identify the percentage of ingredients sourced from overseas.
Because Gourmet Meals sources most of its ingredients locally, we believe this is a positive reform to the current food labelling system. However, for food manufacturers importing most of their ingredients offshore, this could be detrimental to future sales.
What does this mean for consumers?
As the new food labelling system allows consumers to quickly and easily compare items on the shelves, it enables them to make better educated choices on what they’re eating and where it’s from. It also highlights which food manufacturers prefer to source ingredients locally or internationally, so that consumers who are wanting to support the Australian farming and the agricultural industry now have the power to do so.
You can find out more about food labelling by visiting: https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/eating-well/how-understand-food-labels
If you’re wanting to purchase delicious, healthy, gluten free meals made from mostly locally sourced ingredients, contact Gourmet Meals today on 1300 589 424 or send through your order online.
Tags: Food Labelling, Gluten Free Meals, Meals Delivered
