(May 2018)
In November 2017, the Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food
Regulation (the Forum) discussed sugar claims in relation to alcoholic
beverages.
The meeting
communiqué stated that Forum
ministers are aware of an increasing number of alcoholic beverages for sale in
Australia and New Zealand with the claim they are ‘% sugar-free’. It also stated
that ministers are concerned that these claims on alcoholic beverages are
misleading and that alcohol is being promoted as a healthier choice for
consumers when public health advice is to limit alcohol intake. Ministers asked
us to review the matter in relation to the standard and claims about
carbohydrate and its components, such as sugar claims about food containing more
than 1.15% alcohol.
In response, we completed a technical assessment to explore the matter with
a view to determining whether changes to the Food Standards Code are
required.
Based on the technical assessment, we consider there is justification for
clarifying Standard 1.2.7 with respect to claims about carbohydrate and sugar
content in relation to alcoholic beverages. We have prepared
P1049 to consider these changes.
Download the Technical Assessment (pdf 595kb) | word (212 kb)
