AMA urges Ministers to adopt 'health star' rating system for food packaging
The AMA is calling on Australian and New Zealand Ministers responsible for the regulation of food and beverages to back a plan to adopt a new ‘health star’ rating system for food packaging when they meet tomorrow in Sydney.
The star-system labelling model – which rates foods on their kilojoule (energy) content and provides nutrient information on saturated fat, sugars and sodium – has been developed over two years by a working group on food packaging, which contains representatives of the food industry and consumer and public health groups, including the AMA.
AMA Vice President, Professor Geoffrey Dobb, said today that informative food labelling is an important weapon in the war against obesity.
“The AMA considers this system to be a sound step in the right direction to help Australian families make more informed choices about healthier packaged foods,” Professor Dobb said.
“It is a good compromise that takes into account industry issues as well as health and consumer concerns.
“The star labelling model will be voluntary.
“The AMA and other health groups encourage the food industry to embrace and support this new labelling system to help fight obesity and improve the health of Australians.
“It will be a major step forward for public health if the Ministers agree to implement this new food labelling system,” Professor Dobb said.
Image by reverbca on Flickr, used under Creative Commons licence
13 June 2013
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