Consumers want government regulation on food: survey

Consumers want more regulation on food to improve community health, a West Australian survey has shown.

The survey, which is published in the Australian New Zealand Journal of Public Health, has shown that the majority of adults believe it is important that the government regulates food policy options under consideration: nutrition information on food labels (97% versus 2% who think it is not important); health rating on food labels (95% versus 3%); food advertising (83% versus 11%); and the supply of environmentally friendly food (86% versus 9%).

“This is yet more evidence that governments across Australia should no longer be persuaded by industry into inaction,” said Michael Moore, CEO of the Public Health Association of Australia.

“They should vigorously begin the process of regulation of food labelling, increasing nutrition information and controlling inappropriate advertising and marketing of junk food.

“There is no doubt that the community perception is government control of food labelling, food advertising as well as ensuring the supply of environmentally friendly food is in the public interest.”

“Curbing excess weight gain and related disease burden is a public health priority. Australian governments are considering food regulatory interventions to assist the public to improve their dietary intake. These findings should provide reassurance to government officials considering these regulatory measures,” the report said.

“These results reinforce the need for urgent action and the implementation of the system that has been approved in principle by food ministers from around Australia as quickly as possible,” Moore concluded.

The full article is available here.