Page 1 of 1
Date: 8 November 2010
Contact: Rebecca Cook - 0438 316 435
Call for all states to follow NSW and
Vic on menu labelling
The Obesity Policy Coalition (OPC) is calling on all states and territories to follow the
lead of the New South Wales and Victorian Governments in announcing new laws
that require food chain outlets to include kilojoule counts for each item on their
menus.
Jane Martin, senior policy adviser for the OPC, said that menu labelling had been
effective in helping consumers to choose lower energy products in certain parts of
America where the scheme was already in operation.
"Clearer labelling on menus at fast food outlets will help consumers sort the fat from
the fiction at a glance. We know this has proven effective overseas. Giving
consumers information about the amount of kilojoules in a menu item empowers
them to make lower energy choices. This is particularly important when you consider
that within five years one-third of Australians will be obese.
“Many consumers would be surprised to find that some seemingly innocuous items
such as frappes and smoothies contain around a quarter of an adult's recommended
daily energy intake. To make matters worse many products with healthy sounding
names have some of the highest levels of energy,” she said.
The OPC said the NSW Government’s commitment on menu labelling, announced
yesterday, was a positive step following the Victorian Government’s similar
announcement earlier this year; however, it would like to see menu labelling
implemented nationally to benefit all Australians.
“We hope the Blewett labelling review will provide further impetus for a national
approach to menu labelling,” said Ms Martin.
Ms Martin said consumers would also benefit from further nutritional information on
menus such as sugar, salt and saturated fat, and the use of traffic light colours to
indicate the levels of these nutrients.
About the Obesity Policy Coalition
The Obesity Policy Coalition is a group of leading public health agencies who are
concerned about the escalating levels of overweight and obesity, particularly in
children.
The Obesity Policy Coalition partners include Diabetes Australia - Vic, Cancer
Council Victoria, Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth) and the World
Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention at Deakin
University.
NEWS 
