Skip to primary content
- Text Decrease
- Text Increase
- Print Page
Doctors call on Baillieu Government to support traffic light labelling
5 September 2011
A traffic light labelling scheme would assist doctors in fighting the obesity epidemic, AMA Victoria Board Member Dr Lorraine Baker said today.
“Current food labelling offers consumers no useful guidance about which foods are nutritionally appropriate. Traffic light labelling would provide doctors with a simple tool to educate their patients about what foods they should be eating,” said Dr Baker.
“Doctors often advise their patients to avoid certain foods but even with the best intentions doctors cannot control the obesity epidemic through one-on-one patient interactions.
“Doctors can do little to counter vested business interests which see millions of dollars spent promoting unhealthy food products. Legislative action is required that targets the obesity epidemic at a community wide level.”
Dr Baker made her comments at today’s launch of the Obesity Policy Coalition’s new advocacy campaign and smart phone app – the Traffic Light Food Tracker.
“AMA Victoria believes the Traffic Light Food Tracker application will increase awareness of the value of traffic light labelling and give consumers a useful tool to make informed decisions about the food they eat,” said Dr Baker.
“In Victoria nearly half of adults and one quarter of children are overweight or obese. This imposes significant costs not only on the health system and the community, but also on overweight and obese individuals.
“Traffic light labelling will help all consumers to make healthier choices when purchasing food as well as those consumers with special dietary needs. AMA Victoria calls on the Baillieu Government to support a national traffic light labelling policy.”
The Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council will meet in December to consider the recommendations of the Labelling Logic – Review of Food Labelling Law and Policy Report. The report recommended that a traffic light labelling system should be introduced to help consumers make healthier food choices.
Traffic light labels give a rating per 100 grams for sugar, total fat, saturated fat and salt in packaged foods – the colours represent whether the levels are high, medium or low.
Victorian Medical Directory
Quick Reference Links
Networks
