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Ensuring The Quality Of Native Plant Foods

The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) is aiding the development of an emerging industry that is providing exciting foods and food ingredients derived from Australian native plants.

By Department of Primary Industries - 6th October 2004 - Back to News

A critical issue for this and other emerging industries is to be able to assure their customers of the quality and safety of their products. Primary Industries Research Victoria staff at DPI Knoxfield are assisting the industry by providing advice and training on food safety issues.

A workshop on food safety issues for the native plant food industry is being held in Leongatha on Saturday the 16th and 23rd of October 2004. The aim of the workshop is to enable people in the industry to be aware of food safety issues, including those that their buyers will demand of them and those that the current legislation demands of them.

Day One will provide an overview of food safety regulations and requirements and look into the food safety hazards and controls associated with on-farm production (no qualifications will be gained). People who would like to go on and develop a complete food safety program can attend Day Two. Participants who would then like to be qualified as a food safety supervisor will receive this qualification by completing a project and attending the third session; a half day workshop in November.

The costs are $50 each for Day One and Two and the third day is free. Further information can be obtained from Michelle Parsons or John Faragher at DPI Knoxfield on 9210 9222.

MORE GOOD NEWS ON PESTICIDE RESIDUES

The latest Victoria Produce Monitoring Program (VPMP) tests have reconfirmed the low pesticide residue status of the State’s fresh fruit and vegetables.

A total of 8958 analyses were made on 329 samples of 30 different plant products, to measure the residue levels of both a wide range of agricultural chemicals and a number of heavy metals.

Less than 1% of the analyses (representing less than 4% of samples) did not meet the Maximum Residue Limits (MRL) for agricultural chemicals set by the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. Only one sample exceeded the MRL for heavy metal contamination.

Ruth McGowan, DPI's State Coordinator, Horticultural Residue Management, said that these results were comparable to those from similar national and international residue-testing programs.

"The results reflect well on Victoria’s growers, by demonstrating their compliance with good agricultural practices," she said. "They also provide reassurance to consumers concerned about chemical residues in fresh foods."

In addition to the VPMP, DPI receives funding from the State Government's Naturally Victorian Initiative to conduct statistically significant residue monitoring surveys in export-oriented horticultural industries. These surveys aim to aid export growth by providing rigorous, independent data which assist the industries to promote their products as 'clean' food and to identify existing and potential risks from chemical use.

In 2002-03, surveys were conducted on the citrus (navel orange) and organic industries. Oranges were sampled in the Murray Valley, from both Victoria and NSW, whilst organic and bio-dynamic produce was sampled from wholesale agents. Of the 654 samples analysed, only one was found to exceed a Maximum Residue Level and more than 94% of samples from farms or wholesalers contained no detectable residues at all, which clearly demonstrates the clean nature of Victorian horticultural produce.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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