Indigenous supermarket visit from chef prompts complaints to Health Department, NLC

A prominent chef's visit to a remote Indigenous community's "disgusting" supermarket has prompted formal complaints to the Health Department and the Northern Land Council (NLC).

It was the chef's first time in an Indigenous community and he was shocked by the food being sold at Yirrkala's primary food store.

"[There was] tinned food going mouldy, fruit and vegetables on the shelf were rotting [and] food oxidising in the freezer," Mr Welgemoed said to 105.7 ABC Darwin.

"It was all pretty disgusting."

The ABC understands members of Yirrkala community have been long wanting to make formal complaints about the store's food quality but there were concerns about publicly speaking out.

The store is operated by a Darwin-based private contractor, East Arnhem Trading, which sub-leases the store from the NLC.

Mr Welgemoed has since spoken out publicly in the Australian media about his shopping trip through "the doorway to hell" and has made a formal complaint about the Yirrkala store to the NT Health Department.

"I saw the conditions firsthand and wanted to do something," he said.

Rirratjingu Aboriginal Corporation chairperson Bakamumu Marika said the corporation was now also talking to the NLC about changing the store's leasing arrangement.

"We'd like to see some changes in the community for the shop," Mr Marika told 105.7 ABC Darwin.

"We want to get hold of the lease and nominate another operator, the head lease to be given back to the Traditional Owners (TOs) and the store sub-leased to another operator."

NLC 'prepared' to review store lease

The NLC, which represents the Gumatj clan in Yirrkala, and the Rirratjingu, the community's other main clan, have this year been involved in a court dispute over control of mining royalties.

Mr Marika said control of the Yirrkala food store was about ensuring the best quality of life for Indigenous people.

"We need to see local people being employed in the shop and better quality of food with a cheaper price," he said.

"[Poor food quality] happens around all communities. It's not only this place that these things happen."

In a statement to the ABC, NLC media officer Murray McLaughlin said he was aware of complaints about the store's food quality and the NLC was considering reviewing the operator's lease.

"The NLC is sympathetic to customer complaints but has no role in the running of the store," the statement said.

"The NLC is prepared to enter into urgent discussions to review the lease and expressions of interest have been foreshadowed by two proponents."

Food quality, prices and availability have long been a hot topic in many Indigenous communities, with remote locations adding extra overheads and competition between retailers usually limited.

The store's operator, Nigel Lewis, said in a statement to the ABC "the Aboriginal people who are our customers are happy with our service" and the store operated on a not-for-profit basis.

"We offer a wide range of convenience foods and goods not normally found in remote community stores," the statement said.

"A community bus takes locals to Nhulunbuy four times a day. Woolworths is situated in Nhulunbuy and is where most people do their shopping."

But Mr Marika said many people without vehicles found the journey to Nhulunbuy, a mining town about 15 minute's drive from Yirrkala, difficult and often ended up paying for taxis.

"It's really frustrating for the community having to travel 50 clicks to buy food," he said.

Old food safe to eat, Food Standards Australia says

Grocery items can legally be sold after their best before dates, Lorraine Haase from Food Standards Australia told 105.7 ABC Darwin.

"Best before is about food quality and expiry is about food safety," Ms Haase said.

"With a lot of foods, I know with a best before date I'm fairly relaxed about it. The quality of the food deteriorates over time and makes it fairly ordinary [but it is not] a safety issue.

"But if the tin is damaged, avoid it."

Mr Welgemoed said he found several tinned items that appeared damaged, and the store's fresh and frozen food quality was particularly troubling.

"There was food [in the freezer] that was oxidising," he said.

"It was probably on its last legs when it was packed and then frozen down. When you open it up, it would only have a shelf life of a day, and it's $16 a kilo.

"You wouldn't pay that in Sydney for aged, grass-fed Angus beef. This was anonymous meat in a freezer.

"I wouldn't buy any of that food, I'm sure you wouldn't, and [the shop owner] wouldn't.

"How are you even going to encourage children to eat fruit when the flies around it are dead?"

Source: ABC News, Emilia Terzon, 26^th August 2015
Originally published as: Indigenous supermarket visit from chef prompts complaints to Health Department, NLC