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Christmas is approaching quickly so it’s probably time to begin stocking up on the organically certified snack and finger foods. I’ve decided to avoid most of the unhealthy ones this year. These include salt laden chips, peanuts, toffee, marshmallow, and those syrupy rum balls which Granddad likes. To avoid harsh judgments from all and sundry, it’s important to come up with alternative snacks which reasonable minded people will accept and enjoy. Here’s a list which comes readily to mind. Rice crackers offer a healthy alternative to potato chips. These authentic Japanese snacks are baked instead of fried, consequently they rate low in the unhealthy saturated fats. Better brands depend on natural ingredients like seaweed,...

Online surveys by professional market researchers like the AC Nielsen group provide only approximate insight into those factors influencing consumer behaviour in the market for organic goods and services. Experience shows that rapidly shifting views about health, environmental issues, and food safety can also precipitate abrupt shifts in consumer behaviour. In many such instances the most immediate economic effects are delivered prior to the distribution of relevant statistical data. AC Nielsen’s most recent survey on organic consumer trends identified price and lack of credibility as two of the significant barriers against the purchase of foods promoting specific health benefits. From a large sample distributed across Europe, Asia Pacific,...

This weekend Australians will vote in the 2007 Federal election. A vote for the status quo – John Howard’s conservative government – will ensure Australia continues to ignore the global imperative to reduce carbon emissions and its need to behave in an ecologically responsible manner. It was only a matter of months ago that John Howard publicly challenged the notion and validity of climate change and global warming. Not surprisingly the Howard Government will, if re-elected, continue with its plans to mine and export uranium. They have also signalled their clear intention to build nuclear power stations within Australia. Perhaps most alarmingly, the current Government’s policies, which clearly favour large multinationals, have the potential...

Once again, packaging has surfaced as a hot topic. This time, the debate surrounds bisphenol A and its use in common household and commercial packaging items. But it is the use of bisphenol A in baby bottles – and its link with a range of health problems, including cancer, impaired immune function, early onset of puberty and diabetes – that rightly has people most concerned. What is Bisphenol A? Bisphenol A is a chemical commonly used in the manufacture of clear polycarbonate plastic. It is one of the top 50 products produced by the chemical industry, generating revenues in the order of $6 million per day in the United States, Europe, and Japan alone. Global bisphenol A production exceeds 6.4 billion pounds per year. How pervasive...

Okay – only four sleeps left until Halloween 2007 blows into town. If you read Bev’s earlier post, your pantry may already be chock-a-block full of store-bought organic treats to give those hungry, menacing, night-prowling monsters. But if you’re like some of our readers and you’re not overly keen to hand out treats containing too much sugar – whether organic or not – you might want to consider some alternative Halloween approaches. Here’s a quick organic Halloween suggestion that is not only low in sugar but should keep most monster’s at bay – popcorn! Homemade organic popcorn – you can’t beat it. Popcorn’s fun, nutritious and it’s really easy to prepare. Simply start with some good quality organic yellow popcorn...