By JOSIE CLARKE and AGENCIES
Shoppers will know exactly what is in the food they buy under strict labelling laws to be introduced from 2002.
A proposed new code will require manufacturers to print nutritional information and to list ingredients by amount on the packaging of all processed food.
The Australia New Zealand Food Authority (Anzfa) has finished rewriting the draft food standards code.
Health Minister Annette King said the new rules would give consumers accurate advice about what was in their food and harmonise standards between Australia and New Zealand.
Anzfa managing director Ian Lindenmayer said the new code was aimed at meeting the needs of consumers rather than manufacturers, and would protect those with allergies.
The authority believed the food standards code should reflect the best and most recent scientific knowledge about things such as additives and contaminants.
It should also require manufacturers to give consumers key information about the nutrition, risks that might be within the food, and information about the key ingredients in the food supply.
Nutrition labelling was not required at present unless a manufacturer made a nutritional claim, such as low-salt or high-energy.
"We're saying that's fine for those foods that the industry wants to promote as being healthy but there are many foods that contain large amounts of salt ... large amounts of fat ... high levels of calories," said Mr Lindenmayer.
"For very sound health reasons many consumers want to avoid those things and therefore all manufactured foods ... should have nutrition labelling on them."
He said allergic reactions from food were a serious concern.
Anzfa had identified the eight main causes of reactions that interfered with breathing, including peanuts, milk and eggs, and some bee products. The eight groups of allergens would be shown on the front of packaging.
Ingredients already needed to be listed, but not by a percentage of the whole product.
Mr Lindenmayer said retailers welcomed additional labelling but manufacturers felt it should be left to the marketplace.
"The marketplace has shown a preparedness to label some foods that are nutritionally good, but they've shied away, as you would expect, from identifying on the labels those nutritional aspects of their food that customers would want to avoid."
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