healthy habits, nutrition, policy, politics

MedObs: Govt changed food label system after industry lobbying

It’s clear the algorithm that DoHA established was stuffed if what they say about a glass of water vs chicko rolls is true.

The fact that dairy has held sway indicates the project has been undermined.

Never mind if it ever gets adopted, which is unlikely given AFGC’s mutterings at the press club recently.

Then finally, how much of an impact will food labeling actually have, given all the other drivers of the problem of fundamental overeating. I suspect industry is using food labelling as a straw man to keep the bureaucrats and academics tied up while industry marches on its merry way.

This is a classic case of policy development driven by obsessions with process rather than focus on outcome.

Source: http://www.medicalobserver.com.au/news/govt-changed-food-label-system-after-industry-lobbying

Govt changed food label system after industry lobbying

THE Department of Health and Ageing has admitted it changed how it rated dairy products under a radical new food labelling scheme following lobbying from the industry – but staunchly defended its assessment methods.

In Senate estimates this week, department secretary Professor Jane Halton said the dairy industry had complained about how its products fared in the new star system designed to combat obesity.

“The concern that was raised in respect of the algorithm in respect of dairy was that it didn’t give dairy the right prominence,” she said.

“The [department’s] project group considered in great detail how dairy might be recalibrated. We’ve pulled dairy out and we’ve got different categories now.”

But Professor Halton rejected “in the strongest possible terms” suggestions the formulae were wrong after the Senate heard a glass of water would be rated as less healthy than some junk food products.

“It is highly robust and it has been tested across a large number of foods,” she said of the system.

Other industries had told the department they wanted their products rated “better” but she would not say which.

In a statement, Senator Bridget McKenzie said the new scheme risked sending the message that healthy products like milk and cheese were unhealthy.

“The fact that under this scheme a glass of water is less healthy than a Chiko Roll calls into question the whole basis of the front-of-pack labelling scheme,” she said.

Research showed healthy amounts of dairy were linked to reduced risk of several chronic diseases, including heart disease, hypertension, stroke and type 2 diabetes, she said.

The scheme is expected to have the star ratings on food packaging by mid-2014.