Page 56 - Food & Drink Magazine Nov-Dec 2018

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YEAR IN REVIEW
MARCH
SIX DEATHS FROM ROCKMELONS
An outbreak of listeria connected to contaminated rockmelons resulted in six deaths with 19 people falling ill. Consumers were warned against eating rockmelon after the outbreak forced the fruit from supermarket shelves. All affected melons were withdrawn from sale and distribution, with all states and territories working together to investigate.
The source was traced to a rockmelon farm in southern NSW near Griffith, Rombola Family Farms. While a link between the contamination and the rockmelons was established, the farm's statement said neither the authority nor an independent microbiologist were able to identify any specific source associated with Rombola or with the farm's rockmelon washing, storage or packing facilities.
The NSW Food Authority subsequently gave the growers approval to resume production, packing, and the sale of rockmelons after meeting all the requirements of the authority's clearance program.
COKE TARGETS ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE SPACE
For the first time in Coca Cola's 125-year history, the company has made its own alcoholic product, describing the move as a “modest experiment”.
The global beverage giant announced plans to manufacture its first ever alcoholic beverage – an alcopop for the
Japanese market.
The canned beverage known as "chu-hi" is traditionally sweet and fizzy and is made with a Japanese liquor called shochu. Once only considered a lemon- flavoured drink, these days chu-chi comes in hundreds of different flavours and colours.
While saying the
move makes sense to try out in the Japanese market, Coca-Cola also said consumers should not expect to see this kind of product offered all around the globe.
NESTLÉ PULLS MILO’S HEALTH RATING
Nestlé removed the controversial 4.5 health star rating on its popular Milo product after ongoing concern by consumers. Following the system’s “as prepared” rule, Nestlé calculated 4.5 stars
based on the assumption that Australians routinely add three teaspoons of the Milo mix to 200ml of skim milk.
According to health and consumer advocates, people consumed it in a variety of ways, and Nestlé was accused of manipulating the system and “health washing” the sugary product. On its own, Milo scored only 1.5 stars.
The Federal Government is conducting a five-year review of the system. Campaigners want the “as prepared” rule scrutinised as well as added sugar to be included in the product scoring system.
AUSSIE FARMERS DIRECT CLOSES
Aussie Farmers Direct franchisees ceased deliveries after the fresh food delivery company went into voluntary administration. The company blamed competition with big supermarkets and the low cost
of imported foods for its closure.
Affecting 260 employees, 100
franchisees, and about 100,000 customers throughout Australia, the closure was believed to include debts held by
entities associated with local and overseas
investors.
Aussie Farmers Direct
started in 2005 and was one of the first to deliver items such as fresh fruit
and vegetables direct to consumers' doors on a subscription basis.
Melbourne food delivery business YourGrocer is carrying on the Aussie Farmers mission after buying the intellectual property and customer database of collapsed grocery franchisor.
CHEESES RECALLED OVER LISTERIA FEARS
Several French cheeses from independent retailers were recalled after concerns about potential listeria in cheeses
stocked in IGA Foodlands and other independent
retailers in Australia. The NSW Food
Authority advised customers that dairy
distributor Washed Rind had recalled a selection of cheese made in France and sold
from IGA and Supa IGA in NSW, independent retailers in Qld and the ACT, Foodworks and independent retailers in Vic, Foodlands IGA and independent retailers in SA and IGA, Supa IGA and independent retailers in WA due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Six brands of French cheeses including Saint Simeon, Brie de Nangis, Le Vignelait Brillat Savarin, Coulommiers Truffe, Brie de Brie Pasteurise and Le Coulommiers were recalled.
SPACE BEER READY FOR TAKE-OFF
Australian companies are racing to create the world's first 'space beer' with the latest product a joint venture between Sydney-based 4 Pines Brewing Company and space engineering company Saber Astronautics. Working together through a company formed seven years ago called Vostok, its mission is to create the world's first beer for space travelers.
Creating a refreshing alcoholic brew that can be 'sipped' in zero gravity is a challenge that's currently being tested with Zero Gravity Corporation, a privately held space entertainment and tourism company that offers (ZERO-G) research flights at Cape Canaveral in Florida, where it recreates the weightlessness felt in space and the conditions experienced in future commercial space flights.
With people signed up for commercial space flights already, space travel and tourism is predicted to be huge.
✷ APRIL
MURRAY GOULBURN'S ASSETS SOLD TO SAPUTO The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) did not oppose the sale of all of Murray Goulburn's $1.3 billion business assets to Canadian dairy giant Saputo after accepting an undertaking provided by Saputo in respect of a divestment plan for the Koroit dairy plant. Saputo agreed to
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56 | Food&Drink business | November-December 2018 | www.foodanddrinkbusiness.com.au