Pleas for government to leave food labels alone
Consumer advocacy group CHOICE has pleaded with the government to keep product weights in a prominent position, amid a review of food labelling standards.
The food industry is desperate to have the weights removed, but the government has said that it will ‘canvas’ the views of all consumers before making a final decision.
CHOICE head of media Tom Godfrey warned News.com.au, removing quantity statements from the front of packaging would make shopping harder for everyday Aussies.
Godfrey pointed out inconsistent sizing of products from companies like Cadbury’s and Arnotts’, where products look the same and retail for the same price, but actually have fluctuating weights according to their flavour.
Godfrey says, “Fans of Cadbury’s Marvellous Creations range can end up paying the same for a bar that weighs 18 percent less simply by picking Spider Choc Raspberry over Jelly Popping Candy Beanies. Biscuit lovers might be shocked to learn that if they buy Arnott’s Chewy Caramel Tim Tams instead of the Tim Tams Originals they’ll end up with 25 grams less, or nine biscuits instead of 11.”
An example of inconsistent weights. Image credit: CHOICE
A spokesperson from the Australian Food and Grocery Council hit back, blaming regulations, especially for imported premium products, which meant, “Distributors have had to 'over-sticker' their labels in order to comply.”
"(There are) currently 16 rules which govern the way the weight or volume of a product is labelled. To put this in perspective, all other information... has only four requirements."
But Godfrey said that while the proposal was designed to “remove red tape”, it was not in the best interest of Aussie shoppers: “Our research has shown hiding the quantity information on the back of pack is likely to short-change 74 per cent of people who consider it important."
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Hero image credit: CHOICE