The recent case of Hepatitis A infections due to contaminated frozen berries has pushed the Australian government into changing food labeling laws.
The new laws require a triangle or pie charts to be included in food packaging to illustrate how much of the product has been grown locally.
The new regulations are a result of a two-month consultation study that revealed there are several products that have been labeled to home-grown. The products claim to be 'Made in Australia' although they do not contain any Australian ingredients.
According to the Department of Industry and Science, the 'Made in Australia' labels are actually meaningless. This is because the current accounting production tests allow manufacturers to use the label as long as half of the food process was done in Australia.
In contrast, the proposed new labels will clearly illustrate the proportion of Australian ingredients as well as how much of the "transformation" took place in the country.
Tom Godfrey, head of media for the consumer group CHOICE, has spoken about the proposed labeling laws.
"The current country of origin labelling scheme is a complete shambles and is completely meaningless to consumers," he said. "Consumers need to have a look at the pie charts and ask themselves, will they enable them to make an informed decision about the origin of a product and if they don't then they should make that view through the government's consultation process."
In February, there was an outbreak of Hepatitis A infections in New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, Victoria, South Australia and the ACT. According to the Department of Health, all of the 28 cases were linked to consumption of Nanna's brand frozen mixed berries.
Four of the company's products were immediately recalled, and it was discovered that the merchandises were actually packaged in China. Produce like blackberries, strawberries and raspberries were also grown in China, while the blueberries were sourced from Canada.
The Department of Health advises that anyone who has consumed any Nanna's frozen berries and feels unwell must immediately consult their doctor.
