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Daily Intake Guide (DIG) labels now appear on more than 4600 food products in Australian supermarkets highlighting that consumers can use the front-of-pack nutrition labelling system to enjoy a healthy, balanced diet, according to a new industry survey.
To coincide with Healthy Weight Week (January 22-29), the in-store audit* found the use of DIG labels has more than doubled since 2009 with 4,631 food products featuring DIG thumbnails, which offer easy-to-follow information to formulate a daily eating plan.
Introduced in 2006, DIG thumbnails outline the amount of energy, fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt in a standard portion of the food and how that translates to average daily intake.
AFGC Chief Executive Kate Carnell said the latest industry statistics show a growing level of DIG uptake from leading manufactures and major retailers.
“With more and more food products featuring DIG front-of-pack labels, it’s an ideal way for people and families to formulate a daily eating plan according to their individual needs and activity levels,” Ms Carnell said.
“When choosing foods and drinks, you can use these front-of-pack thumbnails to easily balance your personal energy intake during the entire day to enjoy a healthy, balanced diet.”
Following the Federal Government’s decision to reject traffic light labels in response to the Blewett Review, Ms Carnell said industry was looking forward to working with Government to explore a preferred approach to a single, agreed front-of-pack food labelling system. The Government said DIG will be considered in the collaborative process to analyse nutrition rating systems.
Ms Carnell said Australia’s food manufacturing sector and Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) retailers have also made strong inroads in addressing obesity through making foods healthier and reducing advertising to children.
Industry is improving the diets and health of Australians as part of an industry, retailer and government partnership called the Food and Health Dialogue. Under the Dialogue, targets have been set for reducing salt and saturated fat in bread, breakfast cereal, simmer sauces and processed meats.
Ms Carnell said there are virtually no adverts for high fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) foods on children’s television following the success of AFGC’s Responsible Children’s Marketing Initiative (RCMI). The latest independent research in Australia shows only 2.4 per cent of advertising on children’s TV were for HFSS foods between March and May 2010. These adverts were primarily placed in error by agencies in bonus advertising slots.
For more information about the Daily Intake Guide visit http://www.mydailyintake.net
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More information: Brad Watts AFGC Director Media and Corporate Affairs 0437 379 818 *Four supermarkets in Belconnen, ACT, were visited in August 2011 and a count was obtained of the number of products carrying DIG. |
