Yes Gus, what’s wrong with transparency, unless it serves to expose the criminal misbehaviour of powerful vested interests that the rattus government inevitably seeks to serve? But if so-called “oversight” simply serves to placate the doubters, like the 50 or so enquiries that have failed to prove the manifest avaricious practices of the oil companies, then there’s hardly any point … we may as well stick to the current practice of political window-dressing.

Crikey reports ….

Australia's consumer watchdog CHOICE writes:

Every time we go grocery shopping, Australians face choosing between two major operators and a smattering of small independent stores which cannot compete with the goliaths on price alone.

While the majors can argue about market share figures, the reality is we shop in a virtual duopoly and it is doing us no favours at the checkout.

Australians are facing increased pressure on their hip pockets with interest rates, fuel and the rising cost of groceries. That's why CHOICE conducts supermarket surveys to give consumers independent information about pricing and competition.

Our recent survey, released this month, showed a 12% increase in the price of a basket of 33 items since 2003 (excluding fresh fruit and vege and meat).

But amongst our basket of goods were items that had gone up dramatically, including a 45% increase in the price of canola oil, a 23% rise in white sugar, and a 27% increase in 1.25 litre bottles of Coca-Cola. Perhaps because of the drought and the damage to stone fruit crops, a 825g tin of Goulburn Valley Peach Slices went up a whopping 46%.

Like the peaches, there may be valid reasons for price hikes seen with other products. Unfortunately, short of very broad hints about the price of transport and the drought, consumers don't know what those reasons are.

Labor's proposal - for the ACCC to investigate prices charged by the supermarkets giants - would go some way to explaining any future dramatic price increases to consumers.

CHOICE has no evidence of supermarket chains colluding on price, but this proposal would ensure that consumers are protected from that ever happening. Transparency as provided by an ACCC inquiry would benefit us all.

Clearly, as a result of CHOICE's survey, the major parties have become aware that this is touchstone issue with consumers.

CHOICE challenges the Federal Government to announce how it will combat the perception in the community that the weekly grocery shop is an ever increasing impost on the family budget.

Should you be consuming canola oil? The FDA seems to think so, allowing canola labels to claim it supports heart health and reduces the risk of coronary heart disease. Even Whole Foods Markets is on board with canola oil, and most foods on their hot bar are swimming in it. Proponents point out that canola is inexpensive, tastes good, and has the lowest saturated fat content of any common edible oil. Some health experts suggest a daily consumption of 1 1/2 tablespoons of canola oil. But evidence is mounting that canola oil actually promotes heart disease and is a hoax on the public rivaling the promotion of margarine. Leading experts on oils and fats see canola oil as a victory for a food processing industry that will not be happy until all traditional, real foods have been replaced by imitation foods.

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In previous comments on this site (may be, see above), I've stated that canola oil stinks. And I stand by this. Well it's not a question of smell but of question of oiliness, feel and taste. In 1928, E.T. Gundlach published a satirical work about advertising and the brief was to sell more olive oil to the Greeks in the year dot... in times of olive oil glut. Very funny.... But at least there is a long empirical data that olive oil is helping many people live longer. The "Mediterranean" diet has few secrets: While olive oil feels oily to touch, canola oil feels greasy like a bad fart... My feeling exactly.

Canoleum... Canola oil used as sump oil or for making plastics... barely good enough. My opinion.