Choice report shows traffic light labelling needs green light

Dr Kaye said: "Choice has shown that the cereals aimed at kids are
among the worst for nutrition.
 
"Food regulators need to introduce simple traffic light style labelling
of food products to help parents' make healthy decisions.
 
"Obscure Nutrition Information Panels simply aren’t working.
 
"Shoppers do not have the time to sort out the complex array of numbers
and percentages, usually in fine print and buried on the back of the
packaging.
 
"Even if they can find the panel, telling parents the average quantity
of fat, sodium or sugar per serving does little to help them improve
their children’s diet.
 
"Parents should be able to protect their children from food industry
marketing that portrays breakfast cereals high in sugar and salt as a
healthy choice.
 
"While obscure labelling might suit the industry, it leaves most
consumers defenceless against the onslaught of unhealthy food.
 
"Traffic light front of package labels, trialled by the UK Food
Standard Authority, warn shoppers at a single glance when a product
contains an unhealthy amount of fat, saturated fat, sugar or salt.
 
"Using a familiar traffic light analogy with red for dangerous amounts,
green for safe and amber for foods that should be consumed occasionally,
the UK front of package labelling offers hope for parents wanting to do
the best for their children.
 
"Health Minister John Della Bosca and Primary Industry Minister Ian
Macdonald should move to direct the food regulator, Food Standards
Australia and New Zealand, to introduce mandatory traffic light food
labelling,” Dr Kaye said.
 
For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455
 
A full copy of the report is available at
http://www.choice.com.au/viewArticle.aspx?id=106837&catId=100286&tid=100008&p=1&title=Breakfast+cereals+compared