News on Health and Nutrition from Oceania

December 14, 2011

New draft Australian dietary guidelines recommend 40% cut in potato intake

Australians can now have their say on a draft dietary guideline that will help inform healthy eating habits for everyone. The National Health and Medical Research Council has released its draft Australian Dietary Guidelines and the Australian Guide to ...

December 14, 2011

Ballarat potato grower slams negative spud study

Potato grower Dominic Prendergast has hit out at new national guidelines advising adults to eat less of the vegetable.

November 29, 2011

Low GI Carisma Potatoes win South Australian Innovation Award

As the world’s first officially certified low GI potato, it’s no wonder Carisma recently earned The Mitolo Group the Innovation Award under the 2011 South Australian of the Year Awards. As Australia’s leading potato and onion packing company, The Mito...

October 12, 2011

High GI cooked potatoes no problem as part of a meal

Potatoes and other reportedly high-GI foods might not be the dietary villains that recent publicity, books and health-based programmes would claim them to be, a new University of Otago study suggests.

September 24, 2011

Batches of Bluebird potato chips recalled

A number of batches of Bluebird potato chips are being recalled after pieces of blue and green rubber were found inside some packets. The Ready Salted Original Cut Chip packs were produced at the Bluebird Auckland manufacturing plant. Bluebird is war...

September 22, 2011

The United Nations puts the world obesity crisis into the spotlight

The recent General Assembly of the United Nations was a landmark event as it was only the second time the UN had met to discuss health issues - with the last health meeting being held in 2001 and focused on the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The United Nations...

May 18, 2011

McCain Foods brings 'It's All Good' Campaign to Australia and New Zealand

McCain Foods Australia and New Zealand has announced a new “overarching global company philosophy”, pledging to “spread the goodness” with reformulation of products to eliminate additives or preservatives, emphasise its School Veggie Patches campaigns...

February 14, 2011

Carisma, Australia's official low GI potato is making headway

Since its launch last year, consumers have bought more than 1,000 tonnes of Carisma, Australia’s first officially certified low GI potato.

November 12, 2010

Australia's NSW Rolls Out Fast Food Labelling Law

he Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) has mandated a fast-food labelling law, becoming the first state to do so.

June 14, 2010

Potato Salad may cut cancer risk red meat

Scientists from Adelaide’s Flinders University found that the starch contained in cold, cooked potatoes would reduce the cancer risk associated with eating red meat, with increasing evidence available that a diet high in red meat can increase a person’...

June 01, 2010

Bluebird Foods recalls potato chips due to undeclared allergens

Bluebird Light Plus Sea Salt Potato Chips (150g bags) displaying Best Before date 25 August 2010 should not be consumed due to the presence of undeclared allergens – milk, soy and gluten. There have been no reports of illness, however any person conc...

March 08, 2010

Discovery of fat taste could hold the key to reducing obesity - link to BMI

A newly discovered ability for people to taste fat could hold the key to reducing obesity, Deakin University health researchers believe. Deakin researchers Dr Russell Keast and PhD student Jessica Stewart, working with colleagues at the University o...

October 23, 2009

Remarkable reduction in trans fat consumption WITHOUT labeling in Australia and New Zealand

In a report published today, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has shown that intake of trans fatty acids (TFAs) from manufactured sources has declined in the Australian and New Zealand population by 25-40% since 2007. FSANZ Chief Scientist...

July 02, 2009

New Zealand Chip (French Fries) Shop Competition Is On Again

The search for New Zealand’s top chip shop kicks off this month, with registrations opening for shops wanting to take part in the ‘That’s Life! Best Chip Shop Competition 2009’. This year, competing shops can gain extra points in the Competition if at ...

May 22, 2009

FSANZ disputes shock Australian salt intake claim

FSANZ says the majority of Australian adults are not exceeding its recommended maximum daily salt intake, following media reports that claim some Australians could be consuming 40g of salt a day – almost seven times the recommended max.Salt (sodium chl...

April 11, 2009

Purple Heart: New Zealand's Purple Potatoes

New Zealand potato breeder Plant and Food Research has added a new attractive purple skinned variety to its range, which may have added health benefits. With a vivid purple skin and distinctive speckled purple flesh inside, Purple Heart was one of 16 c...

February 05, 2009

Slim Secrets expands range with (very) low fat potato chips

Capitalising on the success of their snack bars, Australian health food company Slim Secrets is broadening their range of snack products to include potato chips. The launch is indicative of a push from manufacturers to improve the health content of t...

November 24, 2008

Agrico's Almera suitable for diabetics and requires less water

A new, healthier variety of potato is set to take the Australian market by storm. Unlike most spuds, Almera is suitable for people who are diabetic or striving to maintain a healthy weight. Graham Liney, who lives about two hours from Canberra, in La...