Call for More talking with Pie Industry

Media Statement October 6 2006

Call for More talking with Pie Industry

Food Standards New Zealand needs to be talking more with the pie industry about letting people know what they are eating – not how much according to the inventor of the mince and cheese pie The Goodtime Food Company.

Goodtime Food’s Chief Executive Phil Pollett said today it’s not the amount of a specific ingredient which goes into in a pie, it’s what goes into making the whole pie that counts.

While he supported Mrs Mac’s attempt to set a base criteria of 25 per cent “meat flesh” in its pies, Mr Pollett said the move would not change the image of a pie because it wasn’t fully informing consumers.

“Stating all pies must be a quarter of meat flesh is too easy for get around because tests are based on protein content and can easily be increased with meat substitutes.

“Trying to set a standard for the amount of meat won’t make the difference,” he said.

“We need to be working with Food Standards New Zealand to ensure people are well informed of what is in the pie they are eating.

“There is significant progress being made to improve the quality and perception of pies as a food. Our industry is working hard and is dedicated to changing what in many cases is unfair and unsubstantiated information against pies.”

Simply regulating a particular ingredient is more about marketing and did not go far enough to improve consumer information, Mr Pollet said

ENDS

© Scoop Media