Traffic light labelling - the evidence
The AMA is urging the Federal Government to reconsider its decision not to support traffic light labelling for packaged foods and beverages.
AMA President, Dr Steve Hambleton, has today written to Health Minister Nicola Roxon, Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing Catherine King, and Minister for Agriculture Senator Joe Ludwig, sending them an AMA brochure that provides compelling evidence that traffic light labelling is effective and explains how the system would work in practice.
The brochure has also been sent to all members of the Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council ahead of the Council’s meeting on 9 December.
“The Ministers have either been misled about the evidence, or ignored it,” Dr Hambleton said.
“There is a very strong case for traffic light labelling to be introduced in Australia, and it is outlined in our brochure, Traffic Light Labelling: Making healthy food choices easier for Australians.
“The brochure puts the case for traffic light labelling into proper perspective when compared to alternatives such as the Percentage Daily Intake approach favoured by the food industry.
“And it also explains why a regulated approach to food labelling is more effective than a voluntary approach.
“If the decision was left to manufacturers, traffic light labels might appear on some products, but not others. Others might decide not to use these labels at all, or maybe for a short time.
“A voluntary approach would lead to unpredictability, inconsistency, public confusion, and failure.
“There is a behaviour change dimension to the traffic light system - it's not about banning certain foods, but getting people to become aware of healthier alternatives and considering them.
“The traffic light system would need to be implemented in conjunction with a strong and ongoing public education campaign and point of sale information.
“The AMA urges the Ministerial Council to not let myths and misunderstandings get in the way of the evidence for a traffic light food labelling system.
“The facts are clear - without this system, the community will continue to pay the rising health cost of poor food choices.”
Traffic Light Labelling: Making healthy food choices easier for Australians is on the AMA website at http://ama.com.au/traffic-light-labelling
The AMA's analysis of the current evidence regarding Traffic Light Labelling can be found at http://ama.com.au/traffic-light-labelling-the-evidence
Traffic light labelling – how it works
There is sometimes misunderstanding and unwarranted fear about traffic light food labels, and especially what the red lights mean.
The purpose of a red traffic light label on a product isn't to send the message ‘don’t ever consume this'. The message is to be aware of the content of the product, consume it in moderation, but also keep in mind the other amber and green light alternatives within that product range, which could be, for example, low fat alternatives.
Full fat milk might have an amber light or even a red light on it for fats (and, of course, green for sugar and for salt). But there are many varieties of milk that are low fat (green light), which could be chosen as the healthier options.
Similarly, Diet Coke might have a green light because, compared to regular Coke, it is a healthier alternative. This makes complete sense under the traffic light system.
5 December 2011
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