Forum to tackle health and nutrition

Australia’s food and grocery manufacturing sector has forged an agreement with the Quick Service Restaurant industry to work together to address important health, nutrition and chronic disease issues.

The partnership between the Australian Food and Grocery Council and the QSR industry involves the establishment of a QSR Forum of AFGC.

One of the main aims of the forum is for industry to work collaboratively with governments to deliver appropriate and transparent information to consumers so they can make informed purchasing decisions.

AFGC Chief Executive Kate Carnell said the forum will enable manufacturers and quick service retailers to work together on effective ways of tackling population health and chronic disease issues.

“People buy food from supermarkets as well as away-from-home food service outlets, so it’s only logical that our industries need to develop better ways of working together,” Carnell said.

Industry takes the growing levels of obesity and chronic disease seriously and recognises the need to work with stakeholders to reduce salt and saturated fats and improve consumer information.

This new and holistic approach provides the first joint forum for the QSR industry to come together as an industry body and work alongside leading food and grocery manufacturers with a focus on being part of the solution for a healthier Australia.

The QSR forum will include four foundation members, including: McDonald’s Australia, Hungry Jack’s, Yum! Restaurants International representing KFC and Pizza Hut brands, and QSR Holdings which represents Red Rooster, Chicken Treat and Oporto restaurants.

The forum will investigate ways of widening the availability of nutritional information for consumers about quick service products.