Note: This investigation was named Finalist at the 2017 AIBs, the annual awards given by the Association of International Broadcasters for media excellence, in the category Best Investigative Story - Audio. It was the only story from Australia chosen as a finalist in that category in 2017.
Watch the full SBS TV report here:
Key findings of SBS Investigation
The SBS Punjabi Radio team sent 18 products purchased at Indian Specialty stores across greater Melbourne to the National Measurement Institute, a food testing lab accredited by the National Association of Testing Authorities.
The tests revealed two instances of products which failed Australian food safety standards and one instance of a completely banned food that is somehow slipping through Australian customs checks on food imports:
Kohinoor brand basmati rice found to contain Buprofezin, an insecticide banned in Australia.
Popular Indian spice brand MDH found to contain pesticides above the accepted Australian limit.
In addition to products that failed to meet FSANZ (Food Standards Australia New Zealand) standards, at least three other products were identified that could be considered unsafe. Whilst these products cannot be called non-compliant according to the Australian food standards, experts have raised concerns about them due to the levels of lead, copper and insecticide residues:
Complan - a powdered milk drink for growing children manufactured by Heinz in India
Indus Basmati - a rice from Pakistan
Verka Ghee - a clarified butter widely used by South Asians in their daily cooking.
Read the detailed findings of SBS’s testing here:
Exclusive: SBS Testing reveals worrying levels of chemicals in foods available for sale in Australia
SBS found that such lapses in standards may be the result of systemic failings in product regulation, including:
Inadequate or misleading labelling of expiry dates leading to the sale of products well beyond recommended consumption periods.
Products recalled overseas for safety reasons can easily remain on sale in Australia due to issues in regulating parallel imports.
Only five per cent of packaged food imports to Australia are tested.
Australia’s standards found to be lower than comparable markets – with the USA rejecting many food products that are deemed acceptable for Australian import.
Local councils are responsible for enforcement of food safety regulations, and often only take action if a complaint is filed.
Listen to the full SBS Radio report here:
Red flags are raised
Last year, SBS's Punjabi program began receiving photos, emails and social-media posts from listeners complaining of foods bought at South Asian grocery stores around Australia.
The foods, they said, were mouldy or smelled foul.
An investigation has now uncovered many anomalies at ethnic grocery stores, from changed "best before" dates on labels to hidden ingredients which could harm people suffering allergies.
A box of prepackaged Kaju (an Indian sweet) was found to have fungus growing on it when opened by one SBS Radio listener, who supplied this photo. Source: Supplied
"Best before" dates had been changed by months, even years, and unlisted ingredients ranged from milk solids to nuts.
When packaged food is rotten or damaged, a buyer will likely throw it away.
Photo of bug-infested bread that had to be discarded by a local Melbourne retailer after it was delivered to them by suppliers in unsaleable condition. (Supplied) Source: Supplied
But that, it turns out, is a small part of the problem.
Experts on food standards for imports into Australia indicate the bigger concern is the contamination consumers cannot see, from chemicals and pesticides to heavy metals.
They say globalisation means, despite Australian food-safety standards, some imported products do not necessarily face the same stringent standards in their country of origin.
Migrant communities and speciality food stores who rely on imported goods in particular, are affected by the findings. The issues raised however affect all Australian consumers, who expect to be able to purchase food, safe in the knowledge that it meets Australian safety standards.
See further evidence of putrid foods sent in by SBS Radio audiences below:
Foods found to breach Australian safety standards
SBS sent 18 products purchased at Indian specialty stores across greater Melbourne to the National Measurement Institute, a food testing lab accredited by the National Association of Testing Authorities.
The tests revealed two instances of products which failed Australian food safety standards:
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PLEASE NOTE THE RESPONSE SBS RECEIVED FROM DHHS ON 14/03/2017:
"In response to the testing commissioned by SBS, the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, in conjunction with the Victorian Department of Health and Humans Services Food Safety Unit undertook some follow-up testing of Kohinoor extra long basmati rice.
The test results revealed the presence of buprofezin at levels of 0.01mg/kg, therefore confirming the results of the testing undertaken by SBS.
The department understands that in response to these laboratory results, the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture and Water Resources has initiated action at the border through an increased inspection and testing regime of Kohinoor brand rice.
This applies to all importers of this product in Australia, including a Melbourne-based importer.
Since these test results the Department has ascertained that the importer has none of this stock in its warehouse and none remains in the stores it supplies."
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Read the full report on the test findings here
Foods found to contain worrying levels of chemicals
Apart from the two foods that failed to meet FSANZ standards, the National Measurement Institute also tested many samples of popular foods.
Results from three other products concerned Food Safety experts due to levels of lead, copper and insecticide residues.
The three concerning products identified:
Complan - a powdered milk drink for growing children manufactured by Heinz in India.
Indus basmati - a rice from Pakistan.
Verka Ghee - a clarified butter widely used by South Asians in their daily cooking.
Whilst these products comply with Australian standards, experts have raised concerns about them.
Explore more of the investigation here
Banned substance Betel Nut available for sale in Australia
SBS found that drug Betel Nut, a substance banned from sale in Australia, was found to be readily available at South Asian grocery stores in Melbourne. 
Hidden camera footage reveals SBS journalists were readily able to purchase banned substance Betel Nut in Australia Source: SBS
Read the full report on the test findings here
Misleading labeling and parallel imports
Imported foods past their expiry date, or not intended for sale outside their country of origin have been discovered routinely being sold across Australia.
Misleading labeling of expiry dates discovered on products purchased by SBS Source: SBS
Read the full story on labelling anomalies and the issue of parallel imports here
Labels reveal foods not intended for sale in Australia are readily available
Regulatory failings
To understand how these dangerous products produced overseas are routinely being sold here, SBS investigated how imported foods make their way into the country.
Here are the key findings:
Only five per cent of packaged food imports to Australia are tested.
Packaged foods not deemed high risk by Australian authorities
Different regulatory standards in India, where many food imports are coming from.
USA rejects many food products that are deemed acceptable for Australian import.
Legal loopholes found in the Australian system.
Border control depends on an "honour system"
Local councils are responsible for enforcement of food safety regulations, and often only take action if a complaint is filed.
Read the detailed report on these regulatory failings here
Regulatory failings identified in Australia’s food imports
Responses
Responses and Q&As from the various companies, bodies and stakeholders that SBS has referenced in this story and were successfully able to contact.
Credits
Investigative journalists: Manpreet Kaur Singh and Shamsher Kainth (SBS Punjabi Radio)
TV Reporter: Luke Waters
Online producers: Genevieve Dwyer and Zoe Sainsbury
Subeditor: Ron Sutton
Production support: Rick Feneley, Shirin Noori
Content Manager: Mark Cummins
Supervising producers: Florencia Melgar and David King
