Food & Drink

Food Labelling Issues

Food & Drink

Posted by: looklively

24th Feb 2016 02:21pm

There have been a few stories in the news recently questioning the way food brands are using the health star ratings found on their products. It would seem that some companies are being quite creative when it comes to their labelling. Are you aware of the government’s health star ratings scheme for food? If so, do you think it’s a good idea and should it be mandatory? Do you make purchase decisions based on how high or low a product’s health star rating is? Would you like to see ratings on more products and do you trust food companies to label their products correctly?

Bazz
  • 1st Mar 2016 01:13pm

I'm aware of the ratings, I think they're a good idea, but should not be mandatory. I do not make purchase decisions based on their criteria; I have my own criteria. That said, others are looking for such a system and are quite prepared to back whatever scheme their government comes up with to "clear up the mess", so to speak. It's good they are making an effort, but it doesn't come anywhere near close to that which needs to be done to ensure consumers are making an informed decision. If I have enough information before I take that taxi trip, I will know pretty soon if I'm being taken on the scenic route or by the fastest means!

Consumers currently are not informed of any ingredient making up less than 1% of the product (1% by weight or by volume?). We are not informed that even our fresh certified organic produce leaves the farm, gets sprayed &/or dipped in chemical & then gets 'irradiated' before arriving on the supermarket shelves. Country of origin is often not stated clearly. Suppliers working conditions, wages, standards, etc are never shown. Most will be entirely unaware of what the Unions have found out about the supermarket fresh produce suppliers... workers are forced / coerced into signing contracts to sign away their rights & protections as employees which means what has been proven to have happened is... forced 22 hour shifts without proper breaks, wages at $2 an hour, forced into accepting accommodation owned by their boss for 75% of their wages, women being routinely sexually abused (yes, that means repetitive rape) by their bosses...

Governments should be more interested in regulating & informing us on every aspect of our food supply & pricing instead of coming up with half-baked ratings schemes which do nothing except make the big bigger & continue the corruption & deceit & criminalizing whistle-blowers. If they fail in that endeavor, then at least they can rebuild an environment whereby corner stores can compete with supermarkets so that people can make informed choices.


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