In a recent report on food labelling the RSPCA has pointed out that the terms “free-range”, “corn-fed”, and organic are not used in a consistent, standardised manner across the range of animal-derived food products, and are calling for mandatory national standards.
Choice, the consumer watchdog agency, has awarded the RSPCA ‘Paw of Approval’ a high rating in its review of the various food labelling schemes found in Australian supermarkets. The ‘Paw of Approval’, fashioned on the lines of the tick from the Heart Foundation on foods it deems to be heart-healthy, can be found on eggs and pork products at this time. Soon the RSPCA Paw will also be applied to chicken meat products. The presence of the paw indicated that the foods have been produced to the RSPCA’s high animal welfare standards. It is wonderful to know that the RSPCA standards are actually much higher than those required by law or recommended by the various model codes of practice. The RSPCA standards ensure that animals in these farming systems are provided with an environment that meets their behavioural and physiological needs so now your family’s food purchases can help improve the lives of farm animals in Australia.
With so many endorsement programs now appearing on food labels, how do you know which ones truly live up to their lofty claims? Choice’s panel of experts examined the claims of the ten most recognised health and sustainability logos to determine their credibility. They cannot really be compared, as the programs reviewed were quite different – standing for different key issues, values and goals, such as the improvement of conditions for developing-world farmers, protecting dolphins from tuna fishers, improving human health, supporting sustainable agriculture, and of course improving the level of awareness of the humane treatment of farm animals raised commercially. The very worthwhile and fascinating results of their inquiry are online and far too extensive to summarise here.
Choice also alerts consumers that Australian supermarkets are now full of foods with ingredients that could be derived from genetically modified (GM) crops because much of the meat, eggs and dairy products could come from animals fed GM feed. Although scientific evidence seems to suggest GM foods may be harmless, not everyone feels like being guinea pigs. Current labelling regulations make it almost impossible for consumers to know when they’re buying GM foods and that is just wrong. With over 11,988,044 hectares, Australia has the largest amount of certified-organic farmland in the world, according to the 2008 Australian Organic Market Report and there should be a dependable mechanism in place to guarantee consumers know the produce they can trust.
According to Choice, the only GM food crops currently produced in Australia are canola and cotton. However, they warn, nearly all processed foods may now contain GM products because Food Standards Australia New Zealand permits manufacturers to use a wide range of GM ingredients imported from overseas including GM soybeans, canola, corn, rice, sugarbeet, and potatoes, with no requirement that the foods be labelled to inform safety- minded consumers. Dr Moyes believes this problem needs to be addressed, and has spoken out on all of these vital issues before.
To read his speeches and articles please click on the following links: Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Amendment Bill 2009, Chickens, Are you eating unlabelled genetically modified GM foods, GE Canola hits the supermarket shelves, Slow food, Farmers’ markets.
For more information please go to: http://www.rspca.org.au/news/choice-backs-paw-of-approval.html and http://www.choice.com.au/