ALDI is the first and only supermarket in Australia to be completely free of artificial food colours across its entire range of exclusive brands and branded food items.
Stefan Kopp, ALDI’s managing director– buying, says this initiative was about providing parents with peace of mind. “While we completed the reformulation of our exclusive brands last year, we were determined to eradicate all artificial colours in the branded food products we sell as well,” he says. “Parents can have complete confidence that no matter what food product they purchase at ALDI, it is free of artificial colours, providing better choice for the health of their children.
Mr Kopp said artificial food colors are liquids or powders added to foods or beverages to enhance the colour and appearance. Research shows that artificial colours may cause hyperactivity, allergic reactions and migraines and they have been linked to stomach upsets and swelling of skin (The Southampton Study 2007).
Sue Dengate of the Food Intolerance Network described Aldi’s move as a huge step in the right direction. She said that Coles and Woolworths are also doing the same in their house brand products.
Ms Dengate said food allergies are now up to 8% in children aged to five years old and in addition, a lot of people are now using synthetic antioxidants that can have an effect on children’s allergies and manufacturers don’t have to state that it is artificial on the label. “There is a difference between food allergies – a reaction to proteins in food - and food intolerance which is related to chemicals in food and artificial colours and flavours,” she said.
“We are delighted with Aldi’s move, but artificial colours are not the only problem as products may still have other things in them such as preservatives,” Ms Dengate said. “Organic food is the best means of avoiding over 50 additives in foods which cause health or behavioural problems, particularly children, excepting those with annatto natural colour and rosemary extract used as a preservative. There are also a limited number of natural foods which can cause intolerances, therefore it’s always good to visit the Food Intolerance Network website.” Look up: www.fedup.com.au.
A FARMING family from Mukinbudin said the majority of farmers are against the introduction of genetically modified (GM) technology in WA, despite its legalisation last month.
State Minister for Agriculture Terry Redman lifted the ban on growing GM canola in February to allow it to be commercially grown this year.
The Labor party put forward a motion in parliament last Thursday to reverse the decision, but it was overthrown.
The Copeland family have been farming at Mukinbudin for nearly a century and said they were disappointed by the decision.
“Throughout WA, 27,000 people signed a petition to keep WA GM-free, as opposed to 300 farmers who signed an agreement with Monsanto to grow it,” Anne-Marie Copeland said.
“None of our neighbours will be growing it, because they have all signed the petition to say they are against it.
We always drink organic wine when we can due to our commitment to the health of our bodies as well as that of the planet. The wine industry are traditionally big users of chemicals which are used generally through a fear that production and quality will drop and disease and problems increase if they are not used. Nothing could be further from the truth as many vineyards are proving. A leading example is found at Frank Bonic’s vineyard at Billabong Creek: www.organic-1.com
So it was with interest that I read this article about organic wines and research done in California about the end product - the wine.
“Wine made with organically grown grapes is higher quality,” Delmas said. “Growers have to devote more time and attention and take better care of organically certified vines than conventional vines, and our results show that these efforts are apparent in the product.”
In addition to being less pure, grapes grown with pesticides, herbicides and inorganic fertilizers interfere with a vine’s ability to absorb naturally occurring chemicals in soil, according to vintners quoted in the study. As a result, wines made with organically grown grapes are more likely absorb these chemicals, which are said to provide the distinctive flavor of the site where the grapes were grown — a wine’s much-prized “terroir.”
If you don’t brew your own beer and don’t know where to buy chemical free beer AND you are a beer drinker then you are likely to be getting more than your fair share of chemicals with every bottle that you drink!
We brew our own including natural honey instead of sugar in the brewing process and it is delicious - especially on a hot day. So when I read about Dean O’Callaghan who is committed to sustainable brewing I took note of his website: www.goodbrew.com.au which reads as follows… What is a good brew?
A good brew is a sustainable brew.
A sustainable brew is brewed with traditional methods.
- Slow fermentation
- No chemicals
There is heaps more great info on the website, so do yourself a favour and go there. Find out how to support your health as well as the environment and the companies behind providing you with good beer.
This handy video will helps starters, learn how to create their own worm compost bin. It reveals a step by step process including what materials and supplies needed in order to make great compost as well as tips to kick start the microbes and speed up the composting process.
Watch this Amazing video about Setting Up a Worm Composting Bin
Farming Secrets that all farmers seek ways for more sustainable farming for the benefit of all. Ask for our Free “Starter Tool Kit” by going to: http://www.farmingsecrets.com/ to find out more.
This video is a great overview of the organic farming process from seed to harvest and putting food on the table. A must see for anyone interested in organic farming and the process of growing food organically and putting on our tables.
It supports our drive at Farming Secrets that all farmers seek ways for more sustainable farming for the benefit of all. Ask for our Free “Starter Tool Kit” by going to: http://www.farmingsecrets.com/ to find out more.
Wouldn’t it be great if you could directly supply your community with your own organic crops? Imagine not losing hard earned profits on transportation costs! Watch as the small community of Grailville, implement their market garden honor system.
It supports our drive at Farming Secrets that all farmers seek ways for more sustainable farming for the benefit of all. Ask for our Free “Starter Tool Kit” by going to: http://www.farmingsecrets.com/ to find out more.
Watch as a group of Indian villagers revert back from conventional farming methods to farming the way their forefathers farmed. They understand that by conventionally farming, they have put themselves in a treadmill situation, where each year, soil fertility goes down and consequently every year one must increase the amount of inputs going into the soil and subsequently increase costs.
By farming organically these farmers make more profits. As fertility is brought back into the soil the inputs will be lower. The farmers save money by eliminating fertilizers and pesticides as well as not having the cost of buying seeds. Then when they market their cotton the price of organic cotton is 8 – 15% higher compared to conventional cotton. This group being Fair trade receives a further 20 -30% consequently increasing the price more than 40%!
