KEY POINTS:
Green Party MP Sue Kedgley has laid two complaints with the Commerce Commission alleging consumers are being misled by labelling on imported produce.
She said today many consumers wanted to know whether the food they bought came from New Zealand or from overseas.
This was particularly the case with whole foods such as meat, fish, fruit and vegetables.
The first complaint relates to Kiwi Bacon and alleges New Zealanders are misled by the use of the word Kiwi on the label into believing it comes from New Zealand pork.
The second related to the broader issue of what Ms Kedgley said was the widespread practice of not declaring on a label where food comes from, particularly fresh food.
"In the absence of any label on meat, for example, most ordinary consumers will assume that it is New Zealand meat, even if it is imported," she said.
"The same applies to most fresh fruit and vegetables."
Ms Kedgley said New Zealand last year imported lamb worth $10.8 million from Australia, and pork and pork products worth $87.4 million from Canada, the United States and Australia.
"There are a variety of reasons why consumers would want to know where the food they are eating comes from and this information should be provided to them as of right," she said.
"The Australian Government has determined that its consumers have this right, I can't see why New Zealanders should continue to be kept in the dark."
- NZPA
