Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing
Senator the Hon. Brett Mason
Spring into healthier eating - new food labels kit
12 September 2007
A new education package on how to read food labels was launched today by the Parliamentary Secretary to the` Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Brett Mason. Senator Mason said that Spring was an ideal time to start thinking about an ongoing healthy eating and exercise program.
“Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has developed this innovative education package that is ideal for consumers, schools, universities and health professionals to use,” he said. “It includes a seminar on FSANZ’s web site about how to read food labels. You can view this seminar on your computer any time and over any period as it will even remember where you left off viewing. An interactive section on the FSANZ web site explains what food labels mean. A pocket guide to take shopping and a full colour poster are also available.
“You can learn about the nutritional content of food by reading the nutrition information panel and also how to interpret that for healthier eating. You can also find out the difference between ‘best before’ and ‘use by dates’, how food recalls are carried out and how to identify life saving allergen information from ingredients lists.
“I strongly encourage teachers, health professionals and academics to look at this educational package and to use it as a teaching aid. It is also easy enough to use at home with our families,” Senator Mason said.
The understanding food labels educational package is available on the FSANZ web site at www.foodstandards.gov.au . Hard copies of the posters and shopping pocket guide are available by e-mailing info@foodstandards.gov.au . This package complements the book Choosing the Right Stuff - the official shoppers’ guide to food additives and labels, kilojoules and fat content, which was launched in May 2007. The book is published by Murdoch books ( ISBN 978-1-921208-40-9) and is available in bookshops at a recommended retail price of $14.96.
Mediacontact: Carolyn Martin, Senator Mason’s Office 0423 826 768.
Lydia Buchtmann, FSANZ 02 6271 2620 or 0411 268 525