All major fast food retailers will be required to display kilojoule information under new laws coming into effect on February 1.
Any standard food outlet with 20 or more stores in NSW or 50 or more stores nationally will be required to comply.
NSW Premier Kristina Keneally and Primary Industries Minister Steve Whan announced yesterday the new laws as part of the NSW Government’s push to improve health and reduce obesity across the State.
This follows the Fast Food Forum hosted by Ms Keneally in August this year – co-chaired by former NSW Premier and healthy food advocate, Bob Carr, and Executive Director of the Sydney Business Chamber, Patricia Forsythe.
The Fast Food Forum brought together Government, industry, public health professionals and stakeholders to discuss food content and how to give consumers better nutritional information at the point of sale.
The new laws mean:
• Businesses such as major fast food, bakery, coffee and doughnut chains will be required to clearly and legibly place the kilojoule content on their menu board as well as prominently featuring the average adult daily energy intake of 8700kj; and
• The kilojoule content must be adjacent to the price of the product and be at least the same size as the price of the product.
The new requirements will come into effect on 1 February 2011, with a 12 month implementation period.
“This is a responsible approach to healthy living. It’s clear that people want to make an informed choice about their food,” Ms Keneally said.
“More and more NSW families are eating fast food, and if they’re not preparing food themselves, they want more information about what they are eating.
“NSW consumers will now have the benefit of clear information about the kilojoule content of the food they order from fast food businesses.”
Managing Director of KFC and Pizza Hut Australia, Albert Baladi, said: “We think the Premier has set the standard for industry consultation.
"We share her vision of providing consumers with information to make sensible dietary choices.
“By bringing together industry, health experts and government, we believe we have arrived at a solution that achieves that aim. It supplements the information we already provide freely on packaging, in store and on our website.
“While we will always serve that great taste that our customers crave, we also will continue to provide more nutritious food, through reducing salt, introducing low saturated fat oils and providing grilled options."
McDonald’s CEO Catriona Noble said: “McDonald’s Australia is committed to helping our customers make informed decisions about their food choices.
“Nutrition information has always been available in our restaurants, and we were the first Quick Service Restaurant in Australia to introduce nutrition labelling on our packaging.
“We believe menu board labelling is another way we can help Australians make informed food choices and forms one part of a broader solution working in collaboration with the government to address the public health issue of obesity.
“We are committed to continue to collaborate with government to help evaluate the menu board labelling scheme.”
The NSW Government has also committed $1.5 million to an evaluation of the initiative and supporting education materials to help consumers understand kilojoule labeling and energy consumption.
The NSW Food Authority will be working with industry during the implementation to assist them in meeting the new requirements.
According to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics’ National Health Survey, 61 per cent of Australians are overweight or obese.
CEO of the NSW Heart Foundation Tony Thirlwell said: "There is building evidence that menu labelling encourages people to make healthier choices, especially parents choosing meals for their children.
“Labelling information needs to be on menus where it’s going to be noticed if we’re serious about helping people make healthier choices and reducing the risk of heart disease, the number one killer of Australian men and women.”
The NSW Government intends to evaluate the scheme within one year with a view to investigating including other nutrients such as saturated fat and salt.
On behalf of the Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) Forum of the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC), AFGC Chief Executive Kate Carnell said: “Industry supports any initiative that ensures consumers and their families have the information they need to make informed choices.”