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Response to Motueka-Golden Bay News -23-august-2007

‘Call to back food labelling push’ 23 August 2007

Your story (Call to back food labelling push) contains a number of inaccuracies that the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) asks you to correct.

NZFSA has no concerns about the safety of imported food, and no ‘dangerous’ pesticide or antimicrobial residues have been found in any imported foods in New Zealand. Your statements are ginger, candied fruit and children’s snacks are also misleading and amount to nothing more than scaremongering. To make inaccurate comments like this without checking their validity with the government agency mandated to ensure the safety of all food for sale in New Zealand is disappointing, particularly as the correct information is freely available on our website.

All of the results of our testing are available in full at nzfsa.govt.nz and clearly show that both imported and locally-produced food available in New Zealand continues to be among the safest in the world.

Your story also incorrectly asserts that country of origin labelling ensures food safety. This in not correct. The origin of a food has nothing to do with its safety, and information on the reasons for this is also available on our website.

NZFSA takes very seriously its duty to protect consumers and ensure that food sold in New Zealand contributes to the well-being of our people.

Sandra Daly

Deputy Chief Executive