Misleading labelling is one thing, but what about 'truthful' labelling of food that is designed to conceal its other less desirable features.

For example, I've noticed that avocadoes now come routinely adorned with useless little stickers that announce "No Cholesterol". Well duh - but what about the fat content?

Or jars of artichoke hearts that say "100% Fat Free", but don't mention the sodium?

Not a big deal I suppose, but it irks me too when food is marketed dishonestly.

Exam
Weren't you the one who complained about the rorts in the butchery game?
There is a huge difference between the udulterating of meat and meat substitution and immitation maple syrup V the real thing at a fund raiser!

Col
Truth in labelling has become a nightmare for the retailers, not so much myself as I don't sell pre-packed meats.

But seriously, why else do you all think food is either very expensive, or, imported. Costs, that's why!

Every batch of food now has to be sample tested so it meets the specs. This cost millions each and every year.

Also, the next time you buy that 'made in china' or wherever else, do you really think that someone on one dollar a day gives a toss whether or not the info on the label is correct everytime?

I for one seriously doubt it! Food for thought hey!

Wake up to your selves and smell the roses before you lot drive every Aussie manufacturer out of business simply because you want 'real maple syrup' on your pancakes or 'a particular brand of potato'.

David F and Examinator I agree completely.
Consumer information in this country is pathetic- easily among the worst in the Western World, and our advertising gets away with an incredible amount of liberties.

I personally don't find it a 'petty matter' to expect to be truthfully told WHAT IS GOING INTO WHAT I EAT from something I'm expected to buy.
And I can second the allergies argument too.

Personally, I'm not too thrilled about being ripped off or possibly poisoned due to corrupt practices for the SOLE reason that the people who are ripping me off are Australian.
If they're feeding me garbage or jerking me around, they don't deserve my money at all.

I naturally gravitate towards Australian-grown products (being a lot fresher coming from nearby), but have little hesitation to support foreign companies if the local ones are trying to rip me off (if Walmart came to Australia with its lower prices, I wouldn't shed a tear for Woolies and Coles at all.)

Strangely, farmers would actually get a BETTER deal if the sellers were forced to disclose their content and ratios of authentic ingredients- applejuice makers would be forced to actually buy more REAL APPLES from the growers, instead of dumping whatever cheap chemicals (and a high dose of tap water) into their vats and selling me preservative sugar-water (may contain traces of apple).

And daresay they should be FORCED to stick to a high concentration of the real ingredients they are advertising or else clearly mark their product as NOT containing the ingredient.

But strangely, instead of caring, some stupid people scared of change jump to their defense!
It seems being ripped off for no reason is "the Australian way"

King Hazza
Well I'm glad you got that load off your chest.

Just remember, we are talking about 'pancakes at a local fund raiser'.

Sure, by all means complain if your apple juce does not contain much apple, but then, did you buy the 'cheap home brand'?

Now back to the pancakes. Say they cost $2.50, would tey still sell if they had to use 'real syrup' and charge accordingly?

This whole debate is being taken out off all proportion.

Anything for an argument hey!

rehctub, what do you think about the apparently common practice of selling two-tooth hoggett as lamb?

Agree CJ- rehctub is missing the point entirely, when it's really quite simple.

The same practice of mislabelling cheap things carries across the entire food market and is just as open to exploitation in the more expensive spectrum, and is nothing but an act of corruption in what is an important part of society (consumerism).

And again- because he obviously skimmed over the points of what happens if they put preservatives or other substances in to thicken out their product that people might be allergic too- or generally bad for their health?

But I think I'm kicking a dead horse, as chances are the "answer" will just be dodging the question in any way to avert the scary "compromising true blue Aussie business" boogieman from enforcing the interests of Australian consumers and competition.

Blah!