Australian public health organisations have co-signed a letter from consumer advocacy group CHOICE, urging Federal Government to adopt the Traffic Light front-of-pack food labelling scheme. Signatories to the letter, sent to the Australian Government’s Ministerial Council responsible for labelling law and policy, include Public Health Association of Australia, Australian Medical Association, Diabetes Australia, Cancer Council Australia, Obesity Policy Coalition, The Australian New Zealand Obesity... ...Read more »

According to a report from Australian food law specialists FoodLegal, Australian beverage and food companies will need to watch closely what emerges from a recent American lawsuit. Foodlegal has reported that parents of a 13-year-old girl from Maryland, USA, have filed a lawsuit against Nestle USA, manufacturer of ‘Deer Park’ and ‘Poland Spring’ bottled waters with added fluoride, and also against Gerber Products Company, which manufactures baby food and infant formula products containing... ...Read more »

The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) has reacted to consumer advocacy group CHOICE’s criticisms of “low-fat” claims on foods. AFGC Chief Executive Kate Carnell said, “If misleading claims are being made, industry would urge the regulators to enforce consumer protection laws. It is also important to remember there are people who need low-fat but not low-kilojoule diets, for example people with high cholesterol.” Responding to CHOICE’s argument that nutrient profiling is in place... ...Read more »

Australian consumer advocacy group CHOICE, today warned that many ready-to-eat desserts with low-fat claims such as ‘fat free’, ‘reduced fat’ and ’97 per cent fat free’ are not always as healthy as their labels suggest. CHOICE reviewed 31 low-fat desserts found in the fridge and freezer section of Australian supermarkets. According to CHOICE, the review has proven that many so-called ‘low-fat’ products contain high sugar and sodium levels. CHOICE spokesperson, Ingrid Just said, “Low-fat... ...Read more »

Australia’s main consumer advocacy group CHOICE has launched a nation-wide campaign against food product labels which carry misleading nutrition claims. It has called on Australian consumers to identify products with claims about ‘reduced fat,’ ‘low carb’ and ‘high in fibre’. CHOICE is calling for consumers to become actively involved in ‘Shame the Claim’ searches. This is the latest move in CHOICE’s on-going campaign against nutrition claims on food product labels in Australia... ...Read more »

Australia’s leading consumer advocacy group CHOICE has renewed calls for a national standard on free range products through Standards Australia and involving industry, government and consumers. CHOICE challenges the Australian Egg Corporation Limited’s (AECL) proposed draft standard which would permit densities of 20,000 chickens per hectare to be certified as free range. CHOICE describes the proposal as “fanciful” and “self-serving”. CHOICE spokesperson Ingrid Just said, “There are... ...Read more »

Does your special Functional food or beverage meet all food law standards? Does your product need to be TGA registered? Will your healthy claims really stand up to government scrutiny? Some of Australia’s leading experts in the areas of food law, health and therapeutic regulations, and marketing law will be providing answers to these questions at a half-day symposium being held in Sydney on Monday 10 October 2011. The symposium, titled ‘Healthy Bodies of Law: Food or Therapeutic? Finding... ...Read more »

Consumer advocacy group CHOICE claims unpackaged meat products sold in Australia should be subject to the same country of origin labelling requirements as other food products. Currently, the only unpackaged meat products that require country of origin labelling under the Australian Food Standards Code are pork and seafood. CHOICE wants mandatory labelling extended to unpackaged beef, sheep and chicken meat in accordance with a proposal by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). FSANZ’s Proposal... ...Read more »

A new smartphone application with the controversial traffic light system has been launched by the Obesity Policy Coalition, which aims to reduce obesity levels in Australia. The Obesity Policy Coalition’s new smartphone app gives a Traffic Light rating based on the amount of total fat, saturated fat, sugars and sodium per 100 grams – green for ‘low’, amber for ‘medium’ and red for ‘high’. Because it is merely a smartphone app, its usage remains voluntary. To use the app, consumers... ...Read more »

A small but growing Western Australian food manufacturer, Sticky Fingers Gourmet Foods, claims that if traffic light labelling were introduced, it could spell the death knell for many small Australian food manufacturers. Lyn Bentley, Managing Director of Sticky Fingers Gourmet Foods contacted Australian Food News about its recent report of the dispute between CHOICE and the ACCC over front-of-pack label systems. Ms Bentley said, “As a small manufacturer supplying to both the food service and retail... ...Read more »