Just found out majority of the ham and bacon is made using imported pork? How do I look for products made with Australian pork then?
Here are the answers to our most frequently asked questions.
Still haven’t found what you’re looking for? Contact us at porkmark@australianpork.com.au
Look for this pink Australian Pork logo on the packs. This is either at the front or back of the packs.
If you can’t find this logo on packs, you can also look at the Country-of-Origin labelling which is mandatory on all packs.
A nearly full bar chart (at least 90%) is your sure indicator that your ham and bacon is made with Australian Pork.
When you’re buying ham or bacon made with Australian pork you know you are getting product that come straight from Australia’s farms, adheres to Australia’s strict quality controls and standards by Aussie farmers who care.
The pink Australian Pork logo on packs of ham and bacon guarantee that the product you’re buying is made from quality Australian Pork.
The reality is the majority of ham and bacon available in Australia is made from imported meats so there are only a limited amount of Australian product on shelves. Products with the pink Australian Pork logo is your guarantee that the product contains only Australian pork. We are continuously working with manufacturers of ham and bacon to get the logo on pack so it makes it easier to identify the country of origin.
If your preferred ham and bacon pack has no pink Australian Pork logo, always check the country of origin labelling and make sure it’s made up of at least 90% Australian ingredients.
Unless all ingredients (including the brine, the salts, the cures) are sourced from Australia, a bar chart will rarely be 100% full. If the bar chart is at least 90% full, this indicates that the Pork component is Australian.
Unfortunately, the green and gold kangaroo on pack alone does not mean the product is made using Australian pork. The kangaroo only signifies that the product was made in Australia, not necessarily from Australian grown produce. To ensure the ham and bacon you’re buying is made from Australian pork, check the bar chart below the kangaroo on the country-of-origin label shows more than 90% Australian ingredients.
There is imported ham and bacon in the deli as well as in the chiller section of supermarkets. However, all products legally must carry the country-of-origin label, whether they are sold loose or packaged. If you’re not sure which products are Australian in the deli, you can ask the deli assistant or manager.
Lots of local butchers in Australia make their own smallgoods using Australian pork. If you need help finding a butcher near you, feel free to get in touch with us and we can help you out or check out our where to buy page.
Of the imported pork that comes into Australia, majority comes from Europe, predominantly Denmark, Netherlands and Ireland. The US accounts for about 20% and a small amount comes from Canada.
Pork imported into Australia must be cooked to government defined high temperatures for set periods of time prior to being sold. This protects our industry from diseases we don’t have in Australia. Most cured delicatessen meats/smallgoods like salami and pepperoni are made with Australian pork as they are cured not cooked which means they can’t use imported meat. If you’re unsure, look for the pink Australian Pork logo or the Country-of-Origin bar chart on products.