{"id":312147,"date":"2025-11-27T12:27:05","date_gmt":"2025-11-27T12:27:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/312147\/"},"modified":"2025-11-27T12:27:05","modified_gmt":"2025-11-27T12:27:05","slug":"calls-for-supermarket-meat-change-as-aussie-shoppers-fall-for-misleading-detail-not-fair","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/312147\/","title":{"rendered":"Calls for supermarket meat change as Aussie shoppers fall for ‘misleading’ detail: ‘Not fair’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Australians are unknowingly picking up imported meat at the supermarket<\/a>, assuming “Australian-made” labels mean it was raised and produced here. But an industry leader says many shoppers would be shocked to learn that\u2019s not always the case.<\/a><\/p>\n

Ahead of Christmas, Australian meat producers are reminding the public that up to 70 per cent of the bacon and ham on shelves is made from imported pork, worth a staggering $1.2 billion a year.<\/p>\n

Confusingly, many of these products boast an Australian-made logo, the green and gold triangle with a kangaroo<\/a>, but that simply means the product was processed, packaged or cooked here<\/a>, with the majority of the animals actually bred overseas.<\/p>\n

Margo Andrae, CEO of Australian Pork Limited (APL), said shoppers would be appalled to discover the truth and believes they are being “misled”.<\/p>\n

In an interview with Yahoo News, she said that, traditionally, it was seen as more expensive to buy Australian, but nowadays “it’s probably down to about $1 per kilo difference”.<\/p>\n

“So it’s now about the choice, and shoppers actually knowing what they’re putting into their baskets,” Andrae said. “Shoppers think they’re buying Australian when they’re actually not.”<\/p>\n

Andrae said that over the last couple of decades, they’ve seen a move to imported products, warning, “it’s just not a fair playing field”.<\/p>\n

\"Pork<\/p>\n

A closer look at the packaging shows some products flaunting the logo are actually made with up to 86 per cent imported ingredients. Yahoo News Australia<\/p>\n

Australian farmers are being ‘undercut’<\/p>\n

These cheap imports are “undercutting Aussie farmers” who are held to higher welfare, sustainability, and biosecurity standards.<\/p>\n

Despite contributing over $6.9 billion to the national economy, local producers aren\u2019t able to compete.<\/p>\n

At the time, the volume of imported bacon and ham had quadrupled since the early 2000s, according to figures from APL. They reached a two-year peak over the 12 months leading up to March this year.<\/p>\n

“It’s those small goods,” Andrae explained.<\/p>\n

“Your fresh pork is still fresh, your beautiful ham on the bone, your beautiful roast, all of that, that’s all fresh \u2014 people can be confident of that.<\/p>\n

“But, your ham and bacon, 70 per cent of it is from the US and Europe.”<\/p>\n

To be fully informed, Australians need to look for the bar chart on food packets.<\/p>\n

“There’s a little bar chart underneath that goes from zero to 100,” she said. “And the fuller the bar, the more Aussie they are.<\/p>\n

“Anything above 80 per cent, you can be guaranteed you’re supporting Aussie farmers,” Andrae said.<\/p>\n

“That applies to all products. If you want to support all Australian farmers, that’s a great way to do it.”<\/p>\n

Research shows 87 per cent of shoppers want clearer country-of-origin labelling so they can confidently choose local produce, with 80 per cent saying they\u2019d opt for Australian pork if it were easier to identify on shelves.<\/p>\n

Australian Pork is now calling for the removal of the kangaroo logo from processed meat unless it meets “Product of Australia” criteria, meaning it’s fully Australian.<\/p>\n

It believes 80 per cent of Australian-grown ingredients should use the label.<\/p>\n

Andrae said the campaign is particularly important as the festive period gets underway.<\/p>\n

“It’s a really lovely reminder that if our pork product has a bone, you can guarantee it’s one of our own,” she said.<\/p>\n

“The Christmas hams, which we sell over 1.6 million as we lead up into this time, can be a beautiful way to support Aussie pork farmers.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The famous green and gold kangaroo logo. Source: Australian government<\/p>\n

Why do supermarkets stock imported meat?<\/p>\n

Historically, supermarkets have stocked overseas meat largely because it was cheaper and more readily available in the volumes needed to meet constant demand.<\/p>\n

Imported pork, in particular, is significantly less expensive for processors to buy, allowing major retailers to offer competitively priced bacon and ham year-round.<\/p>\n

These products often come from countries with lower production costs and larger export-focused industries, making them an easy, reliable supply source.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s also a long-established supply chain built around imported pork for processed meats.<\/p>\n

Australia doesn\u2019t produce enough pork at the low price point required for mass-market ham and bacon, and local farmers operate under higher welfare, sustainability, and biosecurity standards that make costs higher.<\/p>\n

As a result, supermarkets continue to rely on imported meat to fill that gap \u2014 even while Australian consumers often assume they\u2019re buying local.<\/p>\n

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

You can also follow us on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, Twitter<\/a> and YouTube<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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