Leading public health groups welcome new kilojoule labelling laws
Victorian fast food and supermarket chains will be required to display the kilojoule content of ready-to-eat foods on all their menus as of tomorrow, when the Victorian State Government’s new kilojoule labelling law comes into effect.
Cancer Council Victoria and the Obesity Policy Coalition welcome the new law, which will make it easier for people to make healthier choices.
Statement from Todd Harper, Cancer Council Victoria Chief Executive Officer
Cancer Council Victoria welcomes this new legislation from the Victorian State Government, which will help make healthier choices easier for Victorians.
Nearly two thirds of Victorians are overweight or obese – a risk factor for 13 different cancers and a number of other chronic diseases.
Displaying kilojoules on menus, along with an education campaign, has been shown to be effective and is a positive step in helping to tackle our overweight and obesity problem.
Statement from Jane Martin, Obesity Policy Coalition Executive Manager
While there is no silver bullet for reducing overweight and obesity, the introduction of mandatory kilojoule menu labelling in Victoria is an important step.
Currently 63 per cent of Australian adults and 27 per cent of children are overweight or obese. The Obesity Policy Coalition wants to see a comprehensive national obesity strategy with policies including protecting children from junk food marketing and a 20% health levy on sugary drinks to tackle the problem.
We look forward to seeing the Victorian government build on this initiative to continue to improve Victorians’ diets and halt our increasing obesity rates.
Cancer Council Victoria is a non-profit organisation and has been leading the fight against all cancers for 82 years. We focus on cancer research, patient support, cancer prevention and advocacy. Please visit www.cancervic.org.au for further information.
The Obesity Policy Coalition is a partnership between Cancer Council Victoria, Diabetes Victoria and the Global Obesity Centre at Deakin University, a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention. The OPC advocates for evidence-based policy and regulatory change to address overweight, obesity and unhealthy diets in Australia.