FIG - Food Industry Group

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FIG Rejects Otago University’s Study Claims

Media release 9/2/12: “Simplicity is desirable but traffic light labelling is anything but.” So says Lindsay Mouat, Deputy Chairman of the Food Industry Group (FIG), in reply to a Otago University study being used to promote a front-of-pack ‘traffic light systems’ for salt content. 

“Such a move is only likely to increase costs without any significant health benefits,” he said. “Before academics pressure policy makers to impose additional costs on food manufacturers, and thereby the consumer, we need to be sure that it will achieve the required outcomes.”

The Food Industry Groups believes the existing nutrition information panel is the most comprehensive and informative way to ensure a product is suitable for personal health needs. 

Mr Mouat says education is the ideal solution: “When consumers want to know more about what they eat and have learnt what percentages are relevant to them, then it takes a mere one or two seconds to check a package out.”

“There’s been a great deal of investigation into traffic light labelling. The system only creates more confusion and isn’t suitable for all packaged products. It certainly doesn’t cater to varying health needs or take into account someone’s total diet and exercise habits.

“There are so many health-related components in food. By highlighting only the salt content, you are almost suggesting the other ingredients are unimportant.

“And unfortunately, problems don’t go away when the traffic light system is expanded.  Confusion can reign when soft drinks have green lights for fat content while yoghurt and milk might have orange or red lights. 

“Anecdotal evidence from Canada suggests there is so much information required once you start front-of-pack labelling, that the average consumer just loses interest. The extra space required on the packaging becomes a significant problem, particularly on smaller products.”

 

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FIG Welcomes Australian Govt Attitude

New Zealand’s Food Industry Group (FIG) welcomes the Australian Government’s intention to work with the food industry on a consistent approach to nutritional information on packaging, rather than impose “traffic light labelling” on manufacturers. 

The Australian Government’s position was confirmed recently by the Hon Catherine King, Minister for Health & Ageing, in response to a trans-Tasman review of Food Labelling Law & Policy.

FIG Vice-Chairman, Lindsay Mouat believes partnership with industry is the most efficient and effective way forward on the issue of nutritional labelling.

“When it comes to nutritional guidelines for consumers, there are many strengths in the existing, industry-developed “% daily intake” guide,” he said. 

“These strengths can be enhanced by building consumer awareness and understanding. An educational programme may achieve significantly more than tinkering with labelling systems when it is incredibly difficult and costly to find one system that serves all needs.

“There are many flaws with traffic light labelling’s simplistic Red/Orange/Green approach. For example, milk might display a red indicator, sending a confusing message to those sectors of the population who really need to consume greater quantities of the product.”
 

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Denmark’s ‘Fat Tax’ Fails Common Sense Test

Denmark’s imposition of a ‘fat tax’ on important staple foods like butter, milk, cheese and meat is a backward step for balanced family diets and would be unworkable in a New Zealand context, says Katherine Rich, Chair of the Food Industry Group (FIG).

 “Taxing these foods will raise more money for their government, but will have no impact on obesity levels. All the tax will achieve is to make food more expensive for families, possibly even putting the health of children and the elderly at risk.

“It has to be acknowledged that the obesity issue is a complex one with no quick solutions. Numerous research studies and organisations such as the World Health Organisation agree that there are many factors involved, such as lifestyle and exercise.

“Nutritionists also agree that to stay healthy people need a balanced diet which includes all nutrients from fat, sugar, protein, fibre, carbohydrate and salt. Fat taxes give the impression that all fat is evil, which is not the case.  The issue is how much any one person consumes and whether this is balanced with physical activity,” she said.

“The reductionist approach by the Danes in demonising just one nutrient – fat It fails to recognise that people eat whole foods, not single nutrients. Education about healthy lifestyles which balance food intake with activity is the only key to people understanding how to feed themselves and their families.

“What the Danes will find out is that a ‘fat tax’ will do little more than fill government coffers and increase food prices for all citizens,” Mrs Rich said.
  

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Food Industry Slashes Advertising To Children

3rd May 2011:

Combined efforts by Food Industry Group (FIG) members have resulted in a dramatic reduction in TV advertising of food to New Zealand’s children over the last year.

Figures just released by the Commercial Advertising Bureau confirm that over the 2010 year, less than 1% of all ads (0.8%) were produced and approved under self-regulatory guidelines to screen in children’s time blocks. 

Of all advertisements for food, only 120 were placed in the specific programming times for children under 14 years old. This is in stark contrast to previous years. Prior to the launch of the Children’s Food (CF) Classification in 2008, approximately 90% of all food advertisements could have run in these children’s time slots. (In 2008, 810 food advertisements were approved for general consumption, which included children’s programming).

Katherine Rich, Chairman of the Food Industry Group (FIG), explained that their members recognised the need for a high level of social responsibility in communicating to children and were operating a very efficient self-regulatory system to ensure this happens.

“The Food Industry Group has worked collaboratively with successive governments to play our part in minimising the problem of obesity,” she said. “The success of these initiatives demonstrates the appropriateness of the self-regulatory system in New Zealand.”

A new Children’s Code for Advertising Food was launched by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) in April 2010 after its development by a panel of public, industry and government representatives. The new code gives clear guidance on food advertising with strong appeal to children.

During the year ThinkTV (formally known as the NZ Television Broadcasters Council) reviewed its “Getting it Right for Children” advertising policy and announced that free-to-air television had increased the hours of Children's Programming by 107% since 2008. This was to assist the Government’s Healthy Eating - Healthy Action plan and consolidated a 2007 agreement between broadcasters and Government.

FIG members include the New Zealand Food and Grocery Council (FGC), The Association of New Zealand Advertisers (ANZA), the Communications Agencies Association of New Zealand (CAANZ), ThinkTV, food manufacturers, several quick service restaurants, supermarket retailers and a range of other media.

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107% Increase in Restricted or No Advertising TV Hours

March 2011

The new Children's TV Programming Times are available - click here. The recently updated guidelines "Advertising on Television - Getting It Right for Children" are also available - click here.

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Australian Government report dismisses ad bans & taxes as tools to reduce obesity

The Report comes to a number of important conclusions. Read more: www.pc.gov.au/research/staffworkingpaper/childhood-obesity

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General

The Food Industry Group puts in place a strategic plan each year which outlines its Beliefs, Objectives, Goals and Projects. These are available on the Downloads page.

Case studies

There are a large number of case studies and examples of what FIG members are doing to help improve the food supply and the environment. We will be adding examples of these on a annual basis.

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• 25 Jan 2008 Objectives
• 25 Jan 2008 Strategy
• 25 Jan 2008 Food Industry Achievements