8 August 2013
Irradiated Australian tomatoes set for New Zealand stores – but will consumers know how to spot them?
Tomatoes New Zealand today urged food retailers and the hospitality sector to label or indicate where imported
irradiated Australian tomatoes are sold or served.
Some of New Zealand’s retail food outlets are only days away from stocking their vegetable aisles with irradiated
Australian tomatoes and capsicums, however many are unaware that they now have a responsibility to their customers to
label the produce as irradiated.
Tomatoes New Zealand is calling on those importing, selling or serving tomatoes to understand they must comply with the
New Zealand Food Standards Code (FSANZ), which states all food that has been irradiated, or food that contains
irradiated ingredients or components, must be labelled or have a label displayed on or close to it stating that it has
been treated with ionising radiation.
Alasdair MacLeod, Chair of Tomatoes New Zealand, said: “We are asking all food and hospitality retailers including
catering companies to understand the responsibility they now have to their customers. They must work to clearly label
their irradiated produce at point of sale and on their menus – to avoid any public confusion.”
Unlike Australia, New Zealand does not have compulsory labelling of fresh produce – so unless retailers clearly label
irradiated Australian tomatoes and capsicums, consumers won’t be able to distinguish irradiated tomatoes from New
Zealand tomatoes which are never irradiated.
“We acknowledge irradiation is a vital tool to protect New Zealand’s vulnerable horticulture industry from fruit fly and
we support its use on at-risk produce,” said Mr MacLeod. “However we do want consumers to have information at point of
sale so they can make an informed decision whether to eat irradiated tomatoes for themselves. If consumers are unsure of
where their tomatoes or any other produce comes from, please ask your retailer for more information.”
Last month the New Zealand Health Import Standards were amended by the Ministry for Primary Industries - permitting
Australian irradiated tomatoes to be imported and sold into the New Zealand food and hospitality sectors.
Tomatoes New Zealand has been working actively with the Ministry for Primary Industries and the Minister for Food
Safety, Nikki Kaye, to ensure the legal labelling requirements for retailers and processors is strongly enforced and
monitored.
“We are pleased that the Ministry has plans to inform sellers of the labelling requirements and will work to monitor and
penalise retailers if they refuse to comply with the FSANZ Code,” said Mr MacLeod. “Although, the implementation is
slower than we would have liked, we understand that change takes time and we expect to see MPI initiate their proposed
implementation plan in the coming weeks.”
If you believe a retailer is selling unlabelled irradiated produce, you can register your complaint on the Ministry for
Primary Industries consumer helpline on 0800 693 721 or email info@mpi.govt.co.nz .
To learn more about irradiation and the labelling requirements for retailers and processors, please visit the Ministry
for Primary Industries website www.mpi.govt.nz .
Tomatoes New Zealand represents over 150 commercial fresh tomato growers, with a farm gate value of $110 million per
annum, including $10 million of exports sold in 2012.
What is irradiation?
The irradiation process involves eradicating bacteria, mould, insects and other pests by using electrical beams or
X-rays, or gamma rays which are generated from the radioactive source Cobalt 60.
The irradiation method most likely to be used for tomatoes and capsicums coming to NZ from August is gamma ray
irradiation.
To read more about irradiation please visit the FSANZ website: http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/consumerinformation/foodirradiation.cfm
What foods are irradiated currently?
New Zealand already accepts a number of irradiated tropical fruit from Australia that we don’t grow in New Zealand such
as mango, papaya and custard apple. These fruits are required to have mandatory labelling.
How soon could the tomatoes be in New Zealand retailers?
Irradiated Australian tomatoes could be in our supermarkets in late August 2013. For confirmation of the produces’
arrival dates, please contact the Ministry for Primary Industries, Import and Export Standards department.
ENDS