AUSVEG CALLS FOR STRONGER COUNTRY OF ORIGIN LABELLING

Australia's peak vegetable industry body is calling for stronger country of origin labelling laws, following allegations raised this week that Chinese tomatoes were detected in imported processed food products labelled as originating from Italy.

AUSVEG says the claims have highlighted broader concerns around Australia's current food labelling requirements, arguing consumers are often unable to identify where imported frozen, canned and processed vegetables have actually been grown.

Chief Executive Michael Coote says many imported products only identify where they were packed or manufactured, rather than the country where the produce itself originated, creating confusion for consumers and placing additional pressure on Australian growers.

The organisation says local vegetable producers are already facing rising production costs, tighter returns and declining consumption, while imported products continue to gain shelf space in supermarkets.

AUSVEG is calling for tighter country of origin labelling laws and more rigorous testing of imported vegetable products, while encouraging shoppers to choose Australian-grown produce wherever possible.