The confectionery industry is warning Australians not to over-indulge, Choice wants clearer palm oil labelling and Australian Organic is spruiking ethical eggs in the lead up to Easter.
The Head of the Confectionery Sector of the Australian Industry Group (Ai Group), Tim Piper said: “There are some wonderful new chocolate products available with high quality ingredients and great novelty value.
“But even great things must be consumed in moderation. We encourage everyone to enjoy these treats as part of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle.”
The Ai Group's members include Haigh's Chocolates, Lindt & Sprungli and Modelez International.
Consumer advocacy group Choice says consumers “face a jungle” when it comes to Easter chocolate labels.
Easter chocolates, Choice says, often use phrases such as “vegetable fat” to mask their palm oil content.
“When we looked at similar 125 gram packs of Easter eggs from Cadbury and Mars, we found ourselves in the dark when it came to determining the presence of palm oil,” Choice spokesperson Tom Godfrey said.
“We believe that consumers have a right to know what they’re buying this Easter. In order to make informed decisions, we would like to see palm oil labelling mandatory on food products.”
Australian organic, meanwhile, says that there are more certified organic chocolate bunnies, eggs and bilby choices than ever this Easter.
The organic certifier says the cacao bean is the key differentiator when it comes to guilt-free Easter treats.
“With organic certification, not only has the bean grown on farms that don’t use synthetic pesticides, fertilisers and GM, but farmers also have fair working conditions,”Australian Organic’s general manager of commercial, Joanne Barber.
“With Australian Certified Organic chocolate, all the other added ingredients such as milk, sugar, fruit, nuts and cinnamon and chilli, must also meet certified organic requirements,” Joanne says.
According to Australian Organic, certified organic hot cross buns are also more widely available and are a popular choice this year.
Like the chocolate, all the ingredients in buns must be certified organic and they must be made in bakeries that comply with the Australian Certified Organic Standard.
All businesses using the Australian Certified Organic Bud logo are audited annually and imported ingredients undergo the same scrutiny as locally produced ingredients.
