Government support for easier-to-understand food labelling

Cancer Council Australia has welcomed the federal government's response to the Blewett review of food labelling as a small but positive step towards providing consumers with clearer health information about the packaged foods they purchase.

CEO Professor Ian Olver said the government's in-principle support for an "easier-to-understand" labelling system would facilitate further discussions on a system that provides informed consumers choices, particularly if the federal government's position is backed by other jurisdictions in their joint responses to the Blewett review.

"There is ample independent research showing that the daily intake guide – which is the complex written and numerical information about individual nutrients currently on food labelling – is confusing," Professor Olver said.

"So it was encouraging to see the government acknowledge that there is no evidence to show that the daily intake guide provides consumers with adequate information to make informed choices.

"While we believe that a traffic lights system is the best model based on the evidence currently available, we welcome the federal government's willingness to move forward on food labelling to develop an easier-to-understand system than what's currently available.

"There are three things that are clear. Australia has a major problem with obesity; we can expect a lot more cancers caused by obesity and overweight; and Australians deserve a much simpler food labelling system than the daily intake guide.

"The food choices people make will have an impact on their risk of developing cancer, so an easier-to-understand food labelling system is a vital public health initiative."

Professor Olver said it was critical that further discussion on front-of-pack food labelling focused on the community's health and the principle that consumers should be able to make informed purchasing choices.

(Source: Australian Healthcare & Hospitals Association (AHHA))

More information

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