Minister makes Bill more palatable

The minister responsible for the controversial Food Safety Bill says the legislation will be important to the Bay as the region was a "foodie capital".

Minister for Food Safety Kate Wilkinson spoke to a crowd of about 60 people at Mills Reef Winery last night after accepting an invitation from Food Bay of Plenty.

Ms Wilkinson visited Bakels Edible Oils, Heilala Vanilla and the Kiwifruit Processing Company at Te Puna before speaking at the event.

She told the Bay of Plenty Times the proposed Food Safety Bill was "extremely important" to food producers in the Bay.

"Because your area up here is a bit of a foodie capital of New Zealand," she said.

Ms Wilkinson said the current bill was confusing and, at more than 30 years old, also outdated. She planned to use her visit to put right any misunderstandings that might have frightened some food producers.

A petition against the Bill was launched nationally for fear it would take away people's right to grow food, significantly affecting traders at food and farmers' markets.

"There was a scaremongering campaign over Christmas. It was utter rubbish," Ms Wilkinson said.

"I have spent a lot of time actually dispelling these myths and explaining really that the Food Bill is no threat to farmers' markets.

"It will not affect people swapping food over the back fence or making food at home.

"It will only affect food made commercially."

Events manager at the Tauranga Chamber of Commerce and Food Bay of Plenty's Anne Pankhurst said she was delighted Ms Wilkinson accepted the invitation.

"I thought it would be great to have the minister come and talk to us. There was quite a bit of concern as to what the Food Safety Bill would mean," Ms Pankhurst said. The turnout last night included food producers, from local farmers' market stallholders to major exporting companies, Ms Pankhurst said.