Concern grows over toxic foreign flowers Unsuspecting Aussies could be decorating their homes or wedding and birthday cakes with flowers dipped in toxic chemicals, industry insiders have warned.
Crime by Debra Bela and James MacSmith 30th Apr 2021 12:32 PM Unsuspecting Aussies could be decorating their homes or wedding and birthday cakes with flowers dipped in toxic chemicals, industry insiders have warned. Flowers are currently the only perishable product sold in Australia that does not require Country of Origin labelling, a potentially dangerous loophole that could exposure consumers to serious health issues. The flower industry s leading body is ramping up calls for Country of Origin labelling with Australians unknowingly buying native flowers, such as Kangaroo Paw, that have been grown overseas and dipped in toxic chemicals for up to 20 minutes before sale.
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WHILE most people spent their Boxing Day having a snooze on the couch or lying on the beach, flower farmer Sonia Bitmead was busy preparing for Valentineâs Day.
It is a serious labour of love to prepare for the most romantic day on the calendar.
Her parents Don and Lynda Currey started growing vegetables like zucchini and capsicum on their property in Karalee in the 1970s but switched to flowers after about 15 years. Currey Flowers sales manager Sonia Bitmead.
âMum wanted to,â Mrs Bitmead said.
âMy dad wanted to do broadacre crops but my mum wanted to do flowers and I guess happy wife, happy life.â