ABC Investigation Finds Chinese Tomatoes Mislabeled as Australian in Leggo’s, Coles Products

An ABC Four Corners investigation has found that major Australian food brands are selling tomato products grown in China as domestically produced. Forensic laboratory Source Certain, which has worked with the FBI and Interpol, tested products and found some sourced from Xinjiang. Leggo’s owner Simplot, Coles Group, and Aldi all rejected the findings, saying their records show Australian or Italian sourcing. The revelation compounds existing concerns about supermarket pricing and labeling accuracy.

How the investigation uncovered the mislabeling

The ABC’s Four Corners program commissioned independent forensic testing over eight months to verify country-of-origin claims on supermarket products. Source Certain, a globally recognized forensic food laboratory with two decades of experience, conducted the testing. The lab has previously worked with the BBC, FBI, Scotland Yard, Interpol, and the Australian Federal Police. Testing revealed that Leggo’s tomato paste products, along with items from Coles and Aldi, contained tomatoes grown in China despite labels claiming Australian or Italian origins.

What the retailers say about the findings

Simplot, which owns Leggo’s, stated it takes product integrity seriously and is confident its Australian Grown claims are accurate. The company said it checked all batch codes provided by the ABC and found nothing to indicate non-Australian sourcing. Coles said it has no evidence Chinese tomatoes were used in the paste products identified. Aldi rejected the claims, saying suppliers must provide full traceability evidence for raw materials and production.

Why this matters for Australian consumers

Australians often pay premium prices for products labeled as locally grown to support domestic farmers. The investigation suggests that trust in supermarket labeling may be misplaced. Forensic scientist Cameron Scadding told the ABC that opportunity for food fraud exists in every supermarket aisle. The findings add pressure on regulators to strengthen country-of-origin labeling rules and on retailers to improve supply chain transparency.

Broader food safety concerns in Australia

The investigation comes as part of a larger ABC inquiry into Australian food safety. NSW Greens politician Abigail Boyd used parliamentary powers to obtain documents from the NSW Food Authority revealing contamination incidents including metal shavings in bread, mouse fur in food, and needles found in products. While the NSW Food Authority has disputed claims that horse meat was found in products for human consumption, the documents show hundreds of businesses including aged care homes and hospitals were issued food safety notices.

Final Thoughts

The tomato labeling investigation highlights gaps in Australia’s food supply chain oversight and consumer transparency. With Coles Group graded B by Meyka and facing pricing scrutiny, the company now faces added pressure to prove supply chain integrity. Stronger enforcement of country-of-origin rules may be needed to restore consumer confidence.

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