The Australian Medical Association is calling on food ministers to immediately release the findings of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) Act Review and commit to reforms that put Australians’ health ahead of industry interests.
Fifteen years after the landmark Labelling Logic review, only three of 40 public health food labelling recommendations have been fully implemented, despite strong evidence supporting measures such as added sugar labelling and stronger alcohol health warnings.
Poor diet is a leading driver of chronic disease in Australia, with dietary risks contributing to almost 5 per cent of the nation’s disease burden and overweight and obesity now the leading preventable risk factor. Australians lose an estimated 5.8 million years of healthy life each year, while obesity alone could cost the Australian economy more than $62 billion by 2030, an economic pressure that underscores the urgent need for stronger food regulation reform.
AMA President Dr Danielle McMullen said Australia could not afford another decade of delay on reforms that would help prevent chronic disease and improve consumers’ ability to make informed choices about the products they buy.
“Australians have waited 15 years for common-sense food labelling reforms that would help them make healthier choices, yet most of these recommendations are still sitting on the shelf,” Dr McMullen said. “The FSANZ Act Review is a once-in-a-generation chance to ensure Australia’s food regulation system supports prevention and protects public health.”
A new report from the Food for Health Alliance found only three of 40 public health recommendations from the 2011 Labelling Logic review have been implemented, with many others delayed, weakened or abandoned altogether.
The AMA has joined other public health organisations in calling for greater transparency around the review and is urging governments to commit to reforms that make public health a clear and enforceable objective of food regulation.
“We know poor diet is a major driver of chronic disease in Australia,” Dr McMullen said. “Food regulation should support prevention, improve diets and reduce pressure on patients, doctors and the health system. Consumers deserve clear, reliable information about what is in their food and drink, including information about added sugars and easy-to-understand front-of-pack labelling.”
Dr McMullen said the lack of progress on alcohol health warnings was particularly concerning.
“It is unacceptable that stronger alcohol health warnings have stalled while alcohol companies have been allowed to market products using claims such as ‘low sugar’ and ‘zero sugar’ that can make products appear healthier than they are,” Dr McMullen said.
“Alcohol is associated with serious health harms, including cancer, heart disease and liver disease. Consumers deserve clear information about those risks.”
