Media releases

New data released today from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has shown that overweight and obesity remain a major public health challenge. Concerningly, the data shows that obesity is starting earlier and affecting more people over their lifetime with overweight and obesity in children (5-17 years) increasing from 25% in 2017-18 to 28% in 2022-24.

Food for Health Alliance is disappointed in the government’s response to the Federal Parliamentary Inquiry into Diabetes, released on Budget night, which has failed to action strong, evidence-based policies to prevent type 2 diabetes.

The Food for Health Alliance welcomes the government’s release today of the final report of the feasibility study on policy options to implement restrictions to protect children from unhealthy food marketing.

New research led by the Health Policy Centre at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) has shown that placing sugar warning labels on sugary drinks would significantly change adolescents’ behaviour - leading many to avoid buying or drinking them altogether.

A new Australian study has revealed that the majority of commercial snack foods for babies and toddlers are ultra-processed, overly sweet, and fail to meet nutrition standards.

New research by Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), co-funded by VicHealth, shows young Australian children are regularly eating packaged toddler food products from an early age, many of which do not support good health.

Food for Health Alliance has welcomed a draft determination released by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) today, clarifying that GST applies to toddler milk products.

Published for the first time in more than a decade, new ABS data on food and nutrition released today shows while Australians are consuming less sugary drinks than in 2011-12, snack consumption is increasing, and consumption of fruit products is down.

Public health experts have congratulated Food Ministers on their decision to support regulating the composition, labelling and texture of baby and toddler foods in Australia

This World Obesity Day, Food for Health Alliance is urging the Australian Government to prioritise the funding and implementation of the National Obesity Strategy. This strategy was launched on this day by the Federal Government in 2022, but three years on little progress on its recommendations has been made.

A new report from Food for Health Alliance released today highlights how companies are misleading parents about what’s in packaged baby and toddler foods. The findings come as Food Ministers are set to decide in coming weeks whether to regulate the composition and marketing of these foods in Australia.

Food for Health Alliance is urging the Australian Government to prioritise the funding and implementation of the National Obesity Strategy, as AIHW data shows overweight and obesity have overtaken tobacco smoking as the leading risk factor contributing to the disease burden.

Food for Health Alliance has applauded Independent MP Dr Sophie Scamps, who is set to re-introduce a Private Members Bill into Parliament today to remove unhealthy food marketing on TV and radio, including subscription (streaming) services, between 6am and 9.30pm and online at all times.

Leading public health groups are calling for Health Star Ratings to be mandatory across all packaged food products, after an audit found almost two-thirds of items failed to display a rating a decade after the introduction of the voluntary scheme.

Food for Health Alliance’s Brands off our kids! campaign today launched an Open Letter, appealing to Australian Health Minister, the Hon Mark Butler, to introduce regulation to stop sinister marketing tactics of the processed food industry relentlessly targeting children.