Thursday, 20 July 2000

National Diabetes Week

ANZFA proposes new food labelling requirements to promote healthy eating

Managing Director of the Australia New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA),

Ian Lindenmayer, today said the proposed new Food Standards Code would enable people with diabetes to make healthier food choices, because it would require manufacturers to provide nutrition information panels on foods.

'Every year, many Australians suffer from illness that may have been prevented by a better diet. Type 2 (lifestyle) diabetes is a case in point, where onset can be prevented by a sensible diet,' Mr Lindenmayer said.

'ANZFA is proposing to extend nutrition labelling to all manufactured foods. The nutrition information panels would provide consumers with information about the levels of five key nutrients - fat, protein, energy, carbohydrate and sodium.'

Currently, nutrition panels are only required on the labels of foods where claims such as 'low fat' or 'high energy' are made.

Mr Brian Conway, Executive Director of Diabetes Australia, welcomed the proposal.

'Diabetes is a major health issue for all Australians, and this proposal to provide easily accessible information about healthier food choices to people as they shop, can only be good news,' Mr Conway said.

A copy of the proposed new Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code can be found on the ANZFA website www.foodstandards.gov.au . Later this year, it will be put for consideration to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Council, which consists of Health Ministers from the Commonwealth, New Zealand and the States and Territories.

Example of proposed nutrition information on a tub of strawberry yoghurt: