AUSTRALIAN MADE – you are what you eat

By Brian Boyd - ONSITE Editorial Board Member

By buying Australian made goods and services many Australians can avoid buying them from overseas and so many of us choose to do so. Products can range from building materials down to our clothes.

As more Australians make this choice more jobs might be protected and the quality of the products we consume have a better chance of being controlled.

Recently, the long running Australian Made Campaign (AMC) has made significant, improved arrangements with the Federal Government regarding our food.

As of 2018, Australian food manufacturers must comply with new country-of-origin labels. Food grown, produced or made in Australia and intended for sale here, will need to display the appropriate label. Labels include the famous kangaroo in a triangle logo, as well a bar chart showing the percentage of Australian grown or produced ingredients.

The AMC said, “In the past there was an over reliance on statements like ‘made from local and imported ingredients’ – now, for most foods, you’re actually going to see the proportions, how much is Australian, how much is not.”

It is hoped the new system will encourage food manufacturers to rethink the sources of all their ingredients.

OUR CHOICES IN ACTION Easter Bunny Bilby Although many confectionery brands operating in Australia have changed ownership and moved their operations overseas, Fyna Foods has remained steadfastly based in Australia for 70 years. Any purchase of their Pink Lady chocolate bilby helps protect one of Australia’s endangered animals, the bilby. You can find out more at savethebilbyfund.org and about the other Fyna brands including Superior Liquorice, Big Boss Musk Stix and Pink Lady Premium chocolate which all carry the Australian Made logo.