Food Standards Australia New Zealand eyes consumer-focused nutrition labeling

15 Aug 2024 --- Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is working to improve front- and back-of-pack nutrition information labeling and finalize alcohol labeling proposals following a meeting between the food ministries of the two countries. The new labeling standards aim to support consumers in making informed and healthier food choices.

“FSANZ’s Consumer Insights Tracker identified Australian and New Zealand consumers are looking to make healthy food choices, and they rely on food labels to help them do that,” says FSANZ CEO Dr. Sandra Cuthbert, who welcomes the ministries’ decision.

FSANZ expresses preparedness to support mandating the front-of-pack Health Star Rating (HSR) system in case the industry players fail to meet targets voluntarily. This process is expected to inform the decisions of food ministries on HSR and support the implementation process.

The food standard authority will, in parallel, conduct a holistic review of the nutrition information panel (NIP) found on the back of packaged foods. This will be the first such review in 20 years.

“The work on HSR and the NIP provides a unique opportunity to consider how nutrition labeling on the front and back of packaged food can be enhanced to better provide consumers with the information they need to make healthy choices,” adds Cuthbert.

“We look forward to working closely with food regulation system stakeholders as we progress work on HSR and the NIP.”

While conducting the HSR and NIP review scoping activities, FSANZ will also work on two alcohol labeling proposals. 

Proposal P1059 on the “energy labeling on alcoholic beverages” seeks new ways to present energy content information in a prescribed format on the label of packaged alcoholic beverages. If this proposal is approved, consumers in Australia and New Zealand will be able to compare the kilojoule content of alcoholic beverages, just like for food products.

Proposal P1049 on “carbohydrate and sugar claims on alcoholic beverages” aims to clarify the current Food Standards Code permissions for nutrition content claims about carbohydrates and sugar on such beverages.

Public consultation on both alcohol labeling proposals has already been completed, and the FSANZ Board is expected to consider them in late 2024 or early 2025.

The UK has been using the Multiple Traffic Light front-of-pack labeling system for years, while many EU countries are using the Nutri-Score system, with experts calling for full-scale adoption across the union.