Food manufacturers call for collaboration on health outcomes after Parliamentary report

Food manufacturers call for collaboration on health outcomes after Parliamentary report

4 July 2024 - The peak body representing food and grocery manufacturers notes the Diabetes Inquiry report and considers it an opportunity to deepen collaboration with stakeholders.

"The AFGC's interest in this inquiry stems from the crucial role played by food and beverage manufacturers in promoting healthier diets by offering nutritious options and clearer information on pack," said CEO of the Australian Food and Grocery Council Tanya Barden.

AFGC and its members are deeply engaged in government's flagship voluntary initiatives such as the Healthy Food Partnership and the Health Star Rating System.

We welcome the report's focus on multi-pronged interventions to improve health outcomes, including education and better urban planning to enable physical activity. An evidence-based approach where all players have a role in supporting a consistent strategy, based not only on products, but also diets, education and activity, is the way forward.

While AFGC understands concerns about marketing certain foods, particularly to children, it emphasises that the impact of such restrictions on health outcomes remains unproven. Restrictions on food advertising will not serve as a silver bullet for addressing diabetes, nor obesity due to its complex, multi-factorial causes.

The food and beverage manufacturing industry has long supported self-regulatory codes managed by the Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA). The industry advertising code specifically influencing this sector has also recently been reviewed and strengthened.

Similarly, AFGC advises caution regarding the proposed tax on sugar-sweetened beverages due to lack of evidence of its efficacy and the potential disproportionate impact on family budgets amid a cost-of-living crisis. The proposed tax ignores the economic realities of time-poor, budget conscious Australians.

AFGC stands ready to work with government on the multifaceted issue of obesity effectively and the industry will play its part.

AFGC's full submission to the diabetes inquiry can be found here.

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