Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
Cereal sprinkled with hemp seeds, hemp ice cream, hemp as a pizza topping and even hemp beer – this will all be possible from Sunday, as legal changes come into effect in Australia and New Zealand.
Back in April, food regulation ministers agreed to a proposal from Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) to allow the sale of low-THC hemp seed foods. Some extra time was needed to update the legislation, which is why it's only coming into effect on November 12.
WHAT TOOK SO LONG?
Australia has trailed behind other Western countries in legalizing hemp as a food source – in the US and Canada alone, the industry is worth $US570 million ($A742 million). The delays were largely due to (unfounded) concerns that eating hemp food products could produce a positive result on a roadside drug test.
"The Australian government has been very conservative towards hemp as a food," said Paul Benhaim, who moved from the UK to Australia to set up Hemp Foods Australia back in 1999.
"It's taken 18 years, but we are now celebrating the fact that hemp foods are recognized in Australia like in every other country in the Western World. We are really glad that science has won through over politics," he said.
WILL I GET HIGH IF I EAT IT?
The short answer is no.
While hemp and marijuana come from the same plant species, hemp plant seeds don't contain a traceable amount of 'THC', the hallucinogenic component of marijuana.
"You could smoke a whole field of this stuff and all you would get is a headache – you wouldn't get high in any shape or form," said Mr Benhaim.
The president of the Industrial Hemp Association of NSW, Beatrice Kuyumgian-Rankin, told news.com.au that misperceptions about hemp were widespread, and there needed to be "a unified marketing campaign" in Australia to reassure the public that the psychoactive effects people often associate with marijuana didn't apply to hemp.
SUPERFOOD OR FAD?
Within the foodie community, there's quite a bit of hype brewing around hemp, due to it being high in protein and amino acids, and a new alternative for people with nut allergies.
A spokesman from the Australian Medical Association (AMA) told news.com.au that hemp seed products were likely to be given a five-star health rating.
However, claims suggesting that hemp could aid weight loss are taking things too far, according to the author of Interval Weight Loss, Dr Nick Fuller.
"Hemp is just another 'fad' hitting the shelves like the many other 'super foods' being spruiked each day of the week. Don't waste your money on hemp products as it is not the magic bullet everyone is hoping for. It won't help with weight loss," said Dr Fuller.
Nutritionist and co-founder of 12WBT and Voome, Amelia Phillips, said that while it's easy to overindulge in hemp because of its high fat content, "it packs a powerful nutritious punch."
"I would classify it as much a superfood as any other nut or seed," she said.
However, Ms Phillips also described hemp as "super expensive" because it costs nearly three times more than chia seeds, which, let's face it, are already pretty expensive.
HEMP COULD HELP OUR FARMERS
It's been legal to cultivate hemp for around 20 years however, unsurprisingly, Australian farmers haven't been too keen to take up this fast-growing, versatile crop due to the tiny size of the market. That may all change soon, according to Ms Kuyumgian-Rankin, who is also the owner of the Hemp Gallery in Sydney.
"The hemp industry will help Australian farmers as well as the local economy through new infrastructure and jobs. With the dairy industry in strife, hemp gives farmers a viable choice," she said.
Hemp Foods Australia currently has an 80 per cent market share of Australia's hemp food industry, which Mr Benhaim pegged at being "in the low tens of millions of dollars." This included a growing export market for the main hemp food products – hulled seeds, oil, flour and protein powder. He predicts a fourfold increase in business in the coming years.
IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN IN STORES ALL THIS TIME
Sarah Ravines, manager of The Source Bulk Foods in the Sydney suburb of Glebe, said that hemp food products have been stocked by Australian health food stores for years. It's been possible because it's long been legal to sell hemp for cosmetic use. The label must simply state that the product was "not for human consumption", she explained.
"We tell customers that it's up to them what they choose to do with the product once they've bought it. It's true that hemp oil is lovely as a moisturizer, but for something like hemp seeds it's really nonsensical – what else would you do with it but eat it?"
The high-profile chef Jared Ingersoll has been experimenting with hemp food products in the lead up to the change in the law. He told news.com.au that hemp seeds have a mild, nutty taste that wasn't comparable to anything else he knows of. He believes that chefs should take the plunge and incorporate hemp into restaurant and café menus from Sunday.
"I don't think hemp will be a hard sell; not like it is for other new foods like insects and seaweed. Those are a bit tricky because they have the 'yucky perception' tied to them," Mr Ingersoll said.
"But everyone who has been a teenager knows about hemp. It's in the naughty and risqué basket, while being healthy. I think sales will be really strong due to its novelty aspect."
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Hemp in Australia: Newest superfood is coming to a cafe near you
Author: Jessica Mudditt
Contact: Connect Surveys
Photo Credit: News Corp Australia
Website: news.com.au – Australia's #1 news site
Back in April, food regulation ministers agreed to a proposal from Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) to allow the sale of low-THC hemp seed foods. Some extra time was needed to update the legislation, which is why it's only coming into effect on November 12.
WHAT TOOK SO LONG?
Australia has trailed behind other Western countries in legalizing hemp as a food source – in the US and Canada alone, the industry is worth $US570 million ($A742 million). The delays were largely due to (unfounded) concerns that eating hemp food products could produce a positive result on a roadside drug test.
"The Australian government has been very conservative towards hemp as a food," said Paul Benhaim, who moved from the UK to Australia to set up Hemp Foods Australia back in 1999.
"It's taken 18 years, but we are now celebrating the fact that hemp foods are recognized in Australia like in every other country in the Western World. We are really glad that science has won through over politics," he said.
WILL I GET HIGH IF I EAT IT?
The short answer is no.
While hemp and marijuana come from the same plant species, hemp plant seeds don't contain a traceable amount of 'THC', the hallucinogenic component of marijuana.
"You could smoke a whole field of this stuff and all you would get is a headache – you wouldn't get high in any shape or form," said Mr Benhaim.
The president of the Industrial Hemp Association of NSW, Beatrice Kuyumgian-Rankin, told news.com.au that misperceptions about hemp were widespread, and there needed to be "a unified marketing campaign" in Australia to reassure the public that the psychoactive effects people often associate with marijuana didn't apply to hemp.
SUPERFOOD OR FAD?
Within the foodie community, there's quite a bit of hype brewing around hemp, due to it being high in protein and amino acids, and a new alternative for people with nut allergies.
A spokesman from the Australian Medical Association (AMA) told news.com.au that hemp seed products were likely to be given a five-star health rating.
However, claims suggesting that hemp could aid weight loss are taking things too far, according to the author of Interval Weight Loss, Dr Nick Fuller.
"Hemp is just another 'fad' hitting the shelves like the many other 'super foods' being spruiked each day of the week. Don't waste your money on hemp products as it is not the magic bullet everyone is hoping for. It won't help with weight loss," said Dr Fuller.
Nutritionist and co-founder of 12WBT and Voome, Amelia Phillips, said that while it's easy to overindulge in hemp because of its high fat content, "it packs a powerful nutritious punch."
"I would classify it as much a superfood as any other nut or seed," she said.
However, Ms Phillips also described hemp as "super expensive" because it costs nearly three times more than chia seeds, which, let's face it, are already pretty expensive.
HEMP COULD HELP OUR FARMERS
It's been legal to cultivate hemp for around 20 years however, unsurprisingly, Australian farmers haven't been too keen to take up this fast-growing, versatile crop due to the tiny size of the market. That may all change soon, according to Ms Kuyumgian-Rankin, who is also the owner of the Hemp Gallery in Sydney.
"The hemp industry will help Australian farmers as well as the local economy through new infrastructure and jobs. With the dairy industry in strife, hemp gives farmers a viable choice," she said.
Hemp Foods Australia currently has an 80 per cent market share of Australia's hemp food industry, which Mr Benhaim pegged at being "in the low tens of millions of dollars." This included a growing export market for the main hemp food products – hulled seeds, oil, flour and protein powder. He predicts a fourfold increase in business in the coming years.
IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN IN STORES ALL THIS TIME
Sarah Ravines, manager of The Source Bulk Foods in the Sydney suburb of Glebe, said that hemp food products have been stocked by Australian health food stores for years. It's been possible because it's long been legal to sell hemp for cosmetic use. The label must simply state that the product was "not for human consumption", she explained.
"We tell customers that it's up to them what they choose to do with the product once they've bought it. It's true that hemp oil is lovely as a moisturizer, but for something like hemp seeds it's really nonsensical – what else would you do with it but eat it?"
The high-profile chef Jared Ingersoll has been experimenting with hemp food products in the lead up to the change in the law. He told news.com.au that hemp seeds have a mild, nutty taste that wasn't comparable to anything else he knows of. He believes that chefs should take the plunge and incorporate hemp into restaurant and café menus from Sunday.
"I don't think hemp will be a hard sell; not like it is for other new foods like insects and seaweed. Those are a bit tricky because they have the 'yucky perception' tied to them," Mr Ingersoll said.
"But everyone who has been a teenager knows about hemp. It's in the naughty and risqué basket, while being healthy. I think sales will be really strong due to its novelty aspect."
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Hemp in Australia: Newest superfood is coming to a cafe near you
Author: Jessica Mudditt
Contact: Connect Surveys
Photo Credit: News Corp Australia
Website: news.com.au – Australia's #1 news site
