Australian Tomato Paste Under Provenance Scrutiny

Australia’s food manufacturing sector is facing heightened scrutiny following a national broadcast report alleging discrepancies in country-of-origin labeling for retail tomato paste products.

The controversy stems from an extensive investigation published by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s (ABC) flagship program Four Corners, which reported that a significant portion of commercial tomato paste sold in major Australian supermarkets contained raw materials sourced from China, despite labels claiming Australian or Italian origin.

Media Reference: Watch ABC Four Corners: Part 1 – The Tomato Origin Investigation (Official Broadcast)

The investigation relied on analytical testing commissioned from Perth-based forensic laboratory Source Certain. Evaluating over 900 samples from 221 processed tomato products across 39 brands, the lab utilized Stable Isotope Ratio Analysis (SIRA) and Trace Element Analysis (TEAP) to cross-examine the chemical “fingerprint” of retail samples against a global reference database of regional soil and water profiles.

According to Source Certain, approximately 22% of all tested products failed country-of-origin verification, with every non-compliant sample mapping directly to chemical signatures characteristic of Chinese tomato production. The investigation focused heavily on Leggo’s—a market-leading brand owned by US-based Simplot Australia and processed in Echuca, Victoria—reporting that 27 out of 33 tested Leggo’s tomato paste samples (roughly 80%) did not match Australian regional baselines. Select private-label paste products from major supermarket chains Coles and Aldi were similarly implicated. Notably, other product lines from these same brands—including Leggo’s diced tomatoes and passata, as well as products from brands like Mutti, SPC, and Woolworths—passed origin verification testing without issue.

Tomato News reached out to Source Certain for additional comment and further technical details regarding their testing methodology and reference database, but did not receive a response prior to publication.

In response to the report, Simplot Australia and major retail chains firmly rejected the findings, standing by their supply chain oversight and paper-trail documentation. Following an internal audit of the specific batch codes cited by the broadcaster, Simplot stated that its factory records, ingredient input logs, and direct grower contracts verify that all tomatoes processed for Leggo’s products originated from local farms in Victoria and New South Wales. Industry representatives also raised technical questions regarding the application of elemental fingerprinting to concentrated tomato paste, pointing out that thermal processing, water evaporation, and manufacturing contact can alter chemical baselines compared to fresh fruit. Meanwhile, major retailers Coles and Aldi similarly rejected assertions of deceptive labeling, maintaining that their supplier contracts mandate verified origins while confirming plans to commission independent secondary testing to audit supply chain integrity.

Addressing the broader industry implications, the Australian Processing Tomato Research Council (APTRC) issued an official statement regarding the controversy:

“The Four Corners program on ABC has raised serious allegations regarding the origin and provenance of some processed tomato products sold in Australia. It is now a matter for the appropriate authorities to assess those allegations. The APTRC is not in a position to comment on individual companies or determine the accuracy of claims concerning specific products.

Australian growers and processors operate under high standards for food safety, quality and traceability. Clear and accurate labelling is essential to consumer confidence and ensures Australian products can be properly distinguished from imported alternatives.

The APTRC will continue to advocate for Australian processing tomato growers and call on governments and supermarkets to strengthen their support for Australian-grown and manufactured tomato products.”

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) confirmed it has initiated preliminary inquiries into the claims to ensure compliance with Australian Consumer Law regarding country-of-origin representations.

As regulatory reviews continue and retailers await secondary testing results, products remain on retail shelves while the broader processing sector assesses the evolving relationship between paper-based audit trails and analytical forensic testing.

Sources: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) / Four Corners, Simplot, Source Certain, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), Australian Processing Tomato Research Council Inc., Procurement and Supply