New Zealand's bacon and ham slip through the country of origin labeling loophole

Published 2021년 3월 15일

Tridge summary

A recent article highlights a forthcoming rule change in New Zealand that will permit bacon and ham to be marketed as 'Made in New Zealand' even if they are made from imported pork. This update to the Consumers’ Right to Know (Country of Origin of Food) Act, set to be implemented in December, will require only fresh and cured pork to carry the country of origin label, while other imported pork undergoing further processing in New Zealand need not indicate its source. This move has been criticized by the pork industry and consumers for being misleading and undermining the legislation's goal to improve transparency around food origins. The article underscores the challenges local pig farmers face with the prevalence of imported pork and the desire among consumers for clearer country-of-origin labeling. A survey by UMR revealed over 80% of New Zealanders believe it is misleading when imported pork, processed in New Zealand, is not labeled as such, underscoring the need for more transparent labeling practices to better inform consumer choices.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

Bacon and ham made from imported pork can continue to be marketed as “Made in New Zealand” under a rule change set to come into effect later this year. NZ Pork chief executive David Baines said consumers are being let down after Minister of Consumer Affairs David Clark confirmed a loophole in the Consumers’ Right to Know (Country of Origin of Food) Act will not be closed. Under the act, only fresh and cured pork must be labelled with its country of origin. All other imported pork which is further processed in New Zealand – including bacon, ham and sausages – must be labelled with the name and address of a New Zealand supplier. No details on the origins of the meat are required. Baines said it was concerning that legislation aimed at strengthening consumers’ “right to know” would allow some key categories of imported pork to be sold with no indication it had originated overseas. “This labelling will mislead many into thinking they are purchasing New Zealand pork when they are ...

Source: Stuff NZ