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- Which nutrients need to be displayed on the label?
- Is nutrition labelling required on all foods?
- Specific nutrients values
Which nutrients need to be displayed
The nutrient values that must be displayed are the following:
- energy (calories/kilojoules)
- protein
- total fat
- saturated fat
- carbohydrate
- sugar
- sodium (salt)
Some manufacturers also display some extra nutrient information, such as:
- vitamins
- minerals
- unsaturated/monounsaturated/polyunsaturated fat
- trans fat (it is a requirement to display this on nutrition labels in the USA, but not yet in Australia)
- cholesterol
While helpful, this extra information is not legally required in Australia.
Food Standards Australia and New Zealand do not require nutrition labelling on the following foods:
- alcohol
- bottled water
- condiments and sauces
- fresh produce (ie fruit, vegetables)
- prepared foods such as sandwiches, rolls
- small packaged foods
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What is the purpose of showing nutrients values
The purpose of showing the values of the nutrients specified by Food Standards Australia, as a minimum, is to encourage consumers to make healthier food choices, choose foods lower in saturated fat and lower in sugars.
An example of nutrition label, with required (and extra) nutrients displayed is shown below:
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The minimum nutrient values (required by Food Standards Australia) are important to be displayed, due to the following:
- Energy - the energy value of a food shows how many calories (or kilojoules) the food contains and what percentage this is in relation to the daily value for total energy, high energy foods in relation to the proportion of the daily value for energy consumption) are unhealthy food choices
- Saturated Fat - this fat has been clearly shown to have heart clogging and damaging effects
- Total Fat - foods high in total fat (in relation to the proportion of the daily value for total fat consumption) are unhealthy food choices
- Sugar - foods high in sugar are known to have damaging effects on teeth, are not recommended for diabetics and are unhealthy food choices
- Sodium (salt) - foods high in sodium increase blood pressure and should be avoided
All of these nutrients allow consumers to determine if a food is high or low in saturated fat, sugar and sodium.
More information
To learn more, see Food Standards Australia.
references
- Food Standards Australia and New Zealand - information about the nutrition labels in Australia and New Zealand, accessed 7 January 2007
- US FDA - Understanding Nutrition Labels - detailed information about all nutrition labels in the USA
