The proposed health star rating system should be mandatory, the president of the Australian Medical Association has said. Dr Steve Hambleton made the statement after the AFGC withdrew its support for the voluntary health star rating system. [ + ]

The Greens have announced a plan for $85 million in grants over four years for infrastructure and initiatives such as farmers markets, community food box schemes, producer cooperatives, local food hubs and marketing regional food brands. [ + ]

Companies that have made the switch to cage-free eggs will be recognised at the RSPCA’s Good Egg Awards in Sydney tomorrow. [ + ]

Researchers from the University of Birmingham have found that hydrophobins, a natural protein extracted from fungi such as mushrooms, could be the key to reducing calories in foods without compromising taste or texture. [ + ]

Growth in retail sales continued to decline through the June quarter, but the rate of year-on-year growth will increase by the September quarter, the AFGC CHEP Retail Index predicts. [ + ]

Tasmania’s largest exporter by value, Cadbury, has announced an aspirational goal to increase its production from 42,000 to 70,000 tonnes/year. A recently announced $30 million investment into Cadbury’s Claremont facility in Hobart will help the company realise its goal. [ + ]

Sandalwood is best known as a fragrant wood but long before it was a major export from Western Australia, local Indigenous communities used the sandalwood nuts as a food source. The nuts are low in saturated fats, high in mono and polyunsaturated fats. Somewhat similar to Brazil nuts and with a glutinous texture, the nuts are now commercially available. [ + ]

FSANZ has published a response to Dr Judy Carman’s paper outlining a study of pigs fed a GM diet. Carman claims the pigs fed the GM diet had a higher incidence of severe stomach inflammation and enlarged uteri than the pigs fed the non-GM diet. [ + ]

Got an opinion on dietary fibre nutrition content claims? FSANZ has released a consultation paper about the qualifying criteria nutrition content claims relating to dietary fibre. [ + ]

Dairy Innovation Australia Limited has opened its expanded national headquarters in Werribee. The site includes state-of-the-art research laboratories, a manufacturing pilot plant, food technology laboratories, a sensory laboratory and culture production facilities. [ + ]

Low-cost and efficient, the novel water purification methods could benefit economically and technologically disadvantaged communities. [ + ]

The federal government has announced $1.8 million in funding for seven projects to improve animal welfare in Australia’s overseas livestock export markets. [ + ]

Bruises on avocados can continue to grow and intensify for up to 96 hours after the damage is done, a UQ researcher has found. He is researching ways to reduce bruised fruit and thus boost avocado sales. [ + ]

French studies have shown that in middle-aged men, moderate wine consumption is associated with a lower mortality from cardiovascular disease and cancer. [ + ]

Berri has pulled its Berri Truly product range after independent senator Nick Xenophon criticised it for misleading consumers about its country of origin. [ + ]