Victoria needs nutrition labels on fast food, say experts
New South Wales does it, as do South Australia and the ACT. Queensland has just promised to jump on board.
So why isn't Victoria doing it, too? That's the question the Heart Foundation is asking the Andrews Government over nutrition labelling of fast food menus.
Heart Foundation Victoria chief executive Diana Heggie says it's time the state caught up with its neighbours to help customers make better choices.
The new electronic McDonald's menu that fell foul of fast food display laws in NSW.
"Victorians are eating out more than ever but most people wouldn't know that a basic combo meal at a fast food outlet contains more than half of a person's daily kilojoule requirements," she said.
"If we're serious about helping people make healthier choices, it's time to get nutrition information on menus and run a consumer education campaign about what it means."
Queensland will introduce a bill to mandate all fast food outlets, bakery and cafe franchises display the nutritional value of their food and drinks.
The former Brumby Government promised to introduce nutritional labelling but that proposal was dumped when the Baillieu Government was elected.
A spokeswoman for Victorian Health Minister Jill Hennessy said the government is considering "a range of policies designed to improve the health and wellbeing of Victorians", including look at what other states do.
A spokesman from the Australian Food and Grocery Council said many fast food companies and chains had already introduced nutrition labelling on their menus.
"Most companies are doing so voluntarily, but it would be good if laws were nationally consistent."
In September, McDonald's came under fire for its new animated menus, which breached NSW labelling laws because they make customers wait for up to a minute to view health information for each product and only show the information for about seven seconds.
The Obesity Policy Coalition, comprising the Cancer Council, Diabetes Australia, VicHealth and Deakin University, support labelling laws.
Source: The Age - Victoria, Alana Schetzer, 13th November 2015
Originally published as: Victoria needs nutrition labels on fast food, say experts
