Europe laps up local wine
A selection of organic wines from three South Australian producers proved to be a big hit at BioFach 2006 earlier this year. The Australian Certified Organic stand was overwhelmed by eager attendees when they offered a small range of the locally produced vino for tasting. More than 260 international organic wine suppliers are represented at BioFach, making it one of the most important organic wine events in the world.
Be allergy aware
May 7 – 13th is Food Allergy Awareness Week, a time for the foodservice sector, health care professionals and the general public to reflect on the dangers of food allergy and to educate themselves more fully on this hidden menace.
The theme for 2006 is "Support Allergic Friends Everywhere". For more details, visit www.allergyfacts.org.au
Nudie goes organic
The founder of the high profile Nudie fruit juice company, Tim Pethick, has announced plans to launch a new organic fruit juice range, to be called Wink. Mr Pethick resigned as chief executive of Nudie in early 2005, but still retains a financial interest in the company.
Nu Fruits new deal
Sydney-based NU fruits of the Amazon and the Pulp Juice chain have teamed up to launch acai fruit to the masses. A new "Amazon Smoothie", featuring the vitamin-laden Aacai berry is now available in all Pulp outlets. NU Fruits and the acai berry were first featured in the inaugural issue of Alternative Foodservice.
Wal Mart goes green
In what may well be a sign of retailing things to come, US giant Wal Mart has opened its first ever eco-friendly store. The Colorado outlet is partially powered by a wind turbine and uses other renewable energy technologies. The new look is part of the chain's new "sustainability platform", which also includes a new brand of in-house organic food, which offers organic produce at discount prices.
Organic show gets royal nod
The organisers of the EcoV organics and sustainability show, scheduled for Bendigo in May, have received the royal nod of approval from none other than Prince Charles.
Show director, Brian Abbott, says the Prince of Wales is a respected global leader of the movement for organic and sustainable agriculture.
"He says very nice things about EcoV, he says that it's a strong….important event, it has a strong message and he hopes the message of organics and the message of sustainability's spread far and wide across Australia," he said.
GM Rice Worries
Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth have found that the European consumers are at risk from unauthorised GM rice grown in China after evidence of a strain was found in rice stick noodles in France and Germany and also in rice vermicelli in Britain. The Chinese rice contained a protein that might cause allergic reactions in humans.
Bayer CropScience Lawsuits
Two morelawsuits have been lodged against Bayer CropScience claiming its genetically modified rice contaminated the US long grain rice supply. A total of three lawsuits against Bayer are now pending. Farmers are seeking compensation for falling rice prices. The latest lawsuit has been filed on behalf of 20 rice farmers in Arkansas, which is the top rice producing state in the United States and its farmers have just begun harvesting the crop. The latest lawsuit seeks $US 275,000 per plaintiff, plus punitive damages.
Organic Milk Study
Britain's Food Standards Agency(FSA) concluded Tuesday that organic milk does not provide significant health benefits over conventional milk despite higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids. The FSA made the conclusion after assessing the evidence on the nutritional differences between organic and non-organic milk provided by a group of scientists who wrote to the FSA recently asking it to "reconsider its position". "The new evidence you have provided does not justify the assertion that organic milk provides health benefits other than those associated with conventionally produced milk," FSA chairwoman Deidre Hutton said in a letter to one of the scientists, which is available on the Agency's website.
The Agency welcomes new evidence and data to ensure that its advice remains up to date and evidence based, and in reaching its conclusions, the Agency has sought the views of scientists who are expert in fats and health.
The FSA has concluded that whilst this study shows that organically produced milk can contain higher levels of types of fats called short-chain omega-3 fatty acids than conventionally produced milk, the evidence suggests that these fatty acids appear to be of limited health benefit compared to the longer chain omega-3 fatty acids found in oily fish. The FSA continues to advise that people should eat at least two portions of fish per week, including one of oily fish, which is rich in long-chain omega-3.
