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Traffic Light Food Labelling - The Evidence

It is difficult for Australian families to find the right information they need to make healthy choices about the food they consume. The AMA believes that a system of Traffic Light labelling on food products can provide easy to understand nutritional information for people to make those choices. This AMA paper publication details the evidence for a Traffic Light system of labelling and its advantages compared to alternative approaches.

Many Australians are experiencing chronic health conditions that could have been prevented through appropriate nutrition and healthy eating behaviours. Rates of obesity continue to rise throughout Australia, which now has the fifth highest rate of obesity among OECD countries.

The food people consume is a major factor in obesity. It is difficult for families to find the information they need to make healthier food choices, especially in the busy routines of daily life. It needs to be easier for people to find the information to make healthier choices about what they eat. The nutrition information on packaged food labels should be a good source of this information, but the current system of food labelling in Australia fails the test and needs to be changed.

The AMA believes that the introduction of a Traffic Light system of front-of-pack labelling will have a positive effect on the eating patterns of Australians. This AMA paper –  Traffic Light Food Labelling: the Evidence  – brings together the current research and evidence to show that this system of food labelling has significant advantages over alternative approaches.

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