Saturday, 20 August 2022
Meet the JournalistsPremiumAucklandWellingtonCanterbury/South Island
CrimePoliticsHealthEducationEnvironment and ClimateNZ Herald FocusData journalismKāhu, Māori ContentPropertyWeather
Small BusinessOpinionPersonal FinanceEconomyBusiness TravelCapital Markets
Politics
Premium SportRugbyCricketRacingNetballBoxingLeagueFootballSuper RugbyAthleticsBasketballMotorsportTennisCyclingGolfAmerican SportsHockeyUFC
NZH Local FocusThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay of Plenty TimesHawke's Bay TodayRotorua Daily PostWhanganui ChronicleStratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu Courier
Covid-19
Te Rito
Te Rito
OneRoof PropertyCommercial Property
Open JusticeVideoPodcastsTechnologyWorldOpinion
SpyTVMoviesBooksMusicCultureSideswipeCompetitions
Fashion & BeautyFood & DrinkRoyalsRelationshipsWellbeingPets & AnimalsVivaCanvasEat WellCompetitionsRestaurants & Menus
New Zealand TravelAustralia TravelInternational Travel
Our Green FutureRuralOneRoof Property
Career AdviceCorporate News
Driven MotoringPhotos
SudokuCodecrackerCrosswordsWordsearchDaily quizzes
Classifieds
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDriven MotoringThe CountryPhoto SalesNZ Herald InsightsWatchMeGrabOneiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
New Zealand

Aussie growers dismiss tomato food safety concerns

1 May, 2013 08:49 PM3 minutes to read
Horticulture NZ chief executive Peter Silcock supported calls for tough labelling requirements. Photo / Thinkstock

Horticulture NZ chief executive Peter Silcock supported calls for tough labelling requirements. Photo / Thinkstock

Matthew Backhouse
By
Matthew Backhouse

Assistant Chief of Staff

VIEW PROFILE

The debate over importing Australian tomatoes which have been zapped with radiation has been driven by fierce trans-Tasman rivalry rather than legitimate food safety concerns, growers across the ditch say.

New Zealand growers have raised concerns that supermarkets could be stocking irradiated Australian tomatoes and capsicums as early as next month.

The chemical-free treatment, which is used to kill pests like the devastating Queensland fruit fly, was approved by trans-Tasman regulator Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) last month.

Final approval is still needed from Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye and her Australian counterparts - but that is likely to go ahead, with Ms Kaye yesterday saying she would be prepared to eat an irradiated tomato.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

The Greens have called for a halt to imports of irradiated tomatoes, while Tomatoes NZ chairman Alasdair MacLeod has said while the process was safe, he would not eat an irradiated tomato.

The comments have drawn criticism from Australian vegetable industry group Ausveg, whose public affairs manager William Churchill said the debate had been fuelled by trans-Tasman rivalry.

"There is a fierce competitiveness between Australia and New Zealand when it comes to who can produce the best. You only need to look at the time-old argument about who invented the pavlova.

"The head of Tomatoes NZ is probably saying 'I would rather eat a New Zealand tomato over an Australian tomato,' regardless of had it been irradiated."

Mr Churchill said irradiation was a safe method which avoided the need to fumigate with methyl bromide - a process that took a week to complete and damaged the ozone layer.

He said the tomatoes were given "a quick zap" of radiation which killed the fruit flies, but did no damage to the food itself.

Related articles

New Zealand

Prison veges given to community

24 Mar 10:32 PM
Lifestyle

Guerrilla gardening goes off (+pix)

01 Apr 06:00 PM
Business

Food prices fall 1.3pc in March

11 Apr 11:50 PM
Lifestyle

Blood pressure surge 'alarming'

14 Apr 05:30 PM

Mr Churchill said "scaremongering" comments from the Greens about the safety of irradiation were disingenuous and irresponsible.

Greens' biosecurity spokesman Steffan Browning said irradiated food should not be imported into New Zealand.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Irradiation destroyed vitamins and other nutrients in fruit and vegetables, he said.

Mr Browning said there were many alternative methods such as heat or cold treatments, controlled atmospheres and ozone treatments.

"Problems with strong pesticides used by importers are not fixed by replacing them with irradiation.

Mr MacLeod of Tomatoes NZ has called for compulsory labelling of all irradiated fresh produce, saying consumers had the right to know.

"Unlike Australia, New Zealand does not have compulsory labelling of fresh produce - so under the current regime, unless retailers take it upon themselves to clearly label irradiated Australian tomatoes and capsicums, consumers won't know."

Horticulture NZ chief executive Peter Silcock supported calls for tough labelling requirements.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

"Kiwis don't get enough information about the origin of the food they buy and eat," he said.

"We must at the very least have point-of-sale labelling for irradiated tomatoes and information provided to food service, hospitality and catering providers."

Ms Kaye said the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code mandated that irradiated foods were clearly labelled.

"This includes at point of sale and as an ingredient in food. Consumers can ask restaurants and cafes if ingredients in the food have been irradiated."

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

Herald afternoon quiz: August 20

20 Aug 03:00 AM
Education

Departing head of polytech a 'scapegoat' - National

20 Aug 01:44 AM
New Zealand|PoliticsUpdated

Parliament protest: International conspiracy commentators to attend, claims influencer

20 Aug 01:30 AM
New Zealand

Covid: 3302 new cases, 10 deaths as dominant strain of virus emerges

20 Aug 01:05 AM
New Zealand

'Should not be approached': Wellington police seek wanted man

20 Aug 12:52 AM

Most Popular

Covid: 3302 new cases, 10 deaths as dominant strain of virus emerges
New Zealand

Covid: 3302 new cases, 10 deaths as dominant strain of virus emerges

20 Aug 01:05 AM
'Unbelievable' wild weather - more homes evacuated overnight
New Zealand

'Unbelievable' wild weather - more homes evacuated overnight

20 Aug 12:20 AM
Firefighters save man trapped on car roof in raging torrent
New Zealand

Firefighters save man trapped on car roof in raging torrent

19 Aug 09:35 PM

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2022 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP