Food Review met up with local industry player, Gareth Lloyd-Jones from Ecowise, at this years' Africa Big Seven. He commented on health and safety standards in SA and said, ‘Industry in SA is self-regulated. Retailers drive the food industry and the legislations government is implementing are lower than what retailers want.’ He added that the Consumer Protection Act is inadvertently governments’ first attempt at getting involved but, ‘it’s forcing a reactive approach to food safety issues!’
Talking to Imran Zainal Abidan, manager of the communications unit for the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) at the MPOC stand, his comments couldn’t be more different. He argues that it’s consumers who dictate to the food industry. ‘Consumers perceptions surrounding the palm oil industry are not good and so it’s difficult convincing consumers it’s a multi-purpose product with many benefits.’
