You won't find Moringa powder or capsules on the Luv Your Age website anymore, but Moringa Seed Oil for topical use is still available.
Last week, I was contacted by a representative of Queensland Health who questioned me about our online and market business.
He informed me that it was illegal for us to sell Moringa as a food in Australia.
I was also told that we could not display educational literature or advertise Moringa in connection with its sale as a food.
I was asked if I would be selling Moringa at the Northey Street markets on Sunday. Even though I assured him that we would not, I experienced what followed as a threat. Inspectors attend markets, and we could face a fine.
I haven't posted about this earlier because I wanted my anger to subside, but that isn't working.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) rejected an application to permit Moringa oleifera leaves, immature pods and seed oil to be sold as food or food ingredients. Apparently, it could not establish sufficient evidence of safety or determine safe consumption levels.
This is despite Moringa's centuries-long history as a staple vegetable across India and other parts of South Asia, where it is native, as well as its widespread use in Africa and elsewhere.
Because Moringa does not have a history of traditional consumption in Australia or New Zealand, it is classified as a "novel food." Following the rejection of the application, it cannot be sold as a food or food ingredient. It may only be supplied for therapeutic use if it meets the requirements for a TGA-listed medicine, something that comes at considerable cost to the applicant.
New submissions have been made because many believe the testing processes and evidence relied upon were inappropriate. They argue that normal human consumption is vastly different from the quantities and concentrated extracts used in some animal studies.
Moringa has often been called the Miracle Plant, and rightly so. It IS one of the most nutrient-dense plants known.
The question comes to mind: why would the Australian Government deny the people of this country a superfood while the overprocessed food on our supermarket shelves is considered safe for human consumption?
1 comment
It is terrible that a natural product that gas become illegal 😡
From the information i have looked at, it is all about the money 😞