ANMF backs star rating system

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) has voiced its support for the introduction of a simpler, more transparent food labelling system, which it says will help consumers make healthier food choices, leading to a decrease in growing obesity levels and related illnesses such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

“As frontline healthcare professionals, nurses and midwives see the devastating consequences of obesity, from children through to older Australians and in particular parts of the population, such as Indigenous communities,” said ANMF Federal Secretary Lee Thomas.

The ANMF has joined other health and consumer stakeholders in calling for the introduction of clear, comprehensible food labelling such as the Star Rating system.

“Opponents of the system must surely realise that Australian consumers have the right to know what they are ingesting,” Thomas said.

“The ANMF believes the current food labelling system could be simplified to assist consumers who quite often are making food choices while standing in supermarket aisles doing their shopping.

“Regulators must work with the government and consumers to make it easier for people to make informed decisions about the foods and drinks they are choosing for themselves and their families.

“We believe there’s now a real need for a front-of-pack system of labelling which will be an important way of fighting obesity across the community - starting at the supermarket shelf.”