ACCC launches inquiry into claims of food labelling after Four Corners investigation
Australia's consumer watchdog has launched an inquiry into allegations of misleading consumer conduct after a major Four Corners investigation examining food fraud.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has initiated an inquiry into claims of misleading food labeling and packaging practices, following a Four Corners investigation into food fraud. Extensive laboratory testing of hundreds of food items uncovered instances of adulteration or misrepresentation of ingredients on product labels.
Assistant Competition Minister Andrew Leigh welcomed the inquiry, emphasizing that Australians should not be misled by deceptive labels. The eight-month Four Corners investigation compiled data from food import inspection records, national food recalls, state regulatory records, and international food fraud intelligence. Forensic testing revealed tomato paste products falsely labeled as originating from Australia or Italy, often containing Chinese-grown tomatoes.
Approximately half of the products that failed testing were sourced from Xinjiang, China, known for employing forced labor. Additionally, seafood advertised as Australian, such as white fish and prawns, was found to be potentially sourced from Vietnam. The testing also detected signs of adulteration in various brands of turmeric, including lead chromate and iron oxide.
ACCC Commissioner Luke Woodward emphasized the importance of consumers being confident in the truthfulness and accuracy of food labeling claims. Assistant Minister for Competition Andrew Leigh commended the ACCC's commitment to enforcing consumer laws for the benefit of Australian consumers, stating that Australians should not be misled by misleading labels.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
