Food and Nutrition Guide Launched

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PDF printable version of Food and Nutrition Guide Launched (PDF 271 KB)

17 July 2012

Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing Catherine King today launched Australia’s Food and Nutrition 2012, a comprehensive report on the key components of Australia’s food and nutrition system.

Ms King said the report highlighted the importance of considering the food and nutrition system as a coherent whole.

“Food is fundamental to our health and wellbeing, so it is important we have a good understanding of the various components that influence and affect our food choices,” she said.

“Australia’s Food and Nutrition 2012 provides a timely update of the key components in our food and nutrition system and will be a valuable guide to the interactions and inter relationships that exist within that system.”

The publication, produced by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, updates an earlier edition which brought together for the first time in one volume information from all sectors of the food and nutrition system.

Ms King launched the report in Melbourne during the 22nd World Congress of the International Federation for Home Economics, which has brought together 2000 delegates from Australia and overseas to discuss ways of building and promoting global wellbeing for individuals, families and communities.

Addressing the congress, Ms King said the findings in the report – such as about 68 per cent of Australian males and 55 per cent of females being overweight or obese – underlined the importance of the Australian Government’s support for food and nutrition-related initiatives designed to improve health outcomes.

“We have made a record $872.1 million investment in preventive health to encourage Australians to think about ways to lead healthier lifestyles, such as quitting smoking, getting active, drinking less alcohol – and eating well,” she said.

“We are supporting the development of a National Nutrition Policy and have established the Australian Health Survey to identify groups at risk of poor health, and are in the process of revising the Australian Dietary Guidelines which are expected to be released later this year.

“We are also working with the Australian food industry on a voluntary food reformulation program aimed at reducing levels of risk associated nutrients and increasing beneficial nutrients, and are developing an interpretive, front-of-pack labelling system that reflects public health priorities.
“In addition, through the National Food Plan, the Australian Government is bringing together all its policies on food for the first time. This will help ensure the government’s policies are right for the long term.”

Australia’s food and nutrition: in brief, a publication suitable for younger audiences, is now available at www.aihw.gov.au.

For more information, please contact the Parliamentary Secretary's Office on (02) 6277 4230