Food
Labels Module
More and more
people are relying on foods out of packets or from fast food outlets
for their meals due to the 'time famine' they are experiencing. If
your meals are not cooked or prepared from scratch then you are not
in control of the ingredients.
Food labels can help you feel more in control of what you are eating
if you understand how to read them. To help consumers understand food
labels, the Australian New Zealand Food Safety Council changed the
food laws in December 2000 under the Food Standards Code. This module
will bring you up to speed with all the changes you can expect to
see on food labels by the end of 2002 (there is a 2 year phase in
period for these changes to take effect to allow manufacturers to
change over to the new standards).
It will help you understand misleading 'nutrient claims' which are
usually splashed across the front of the product, the nutrition information
panel which is usually on the back of the product and the ingredient
listing. It will also address labelling issues related to food additives,
functional foods, health claims, pick the tick logo and genetically
modified foods and ingredients.
This module is
therefore essential reading for anyone who is interested in their
health and well-being, and especially for people who rely on packaged
foods for most of their meals. The module is assessed with on-line
true/false questions and multiple choice questions.
Objectives
To
understand "Nutrient Claims" on Food Labels
Outline
examples of misleading "Nutrient Claims" on food
labels
To
understand what is a "Nutrition Information Panel"
on Food Labels and how to read them.
To
understand ingredient listing on food labels, especially if
the product does not have a Nutrition Information Panel.
To
understand the labelling of food additives
To
understand the strengths and weaknesses of functional foods, health
claims and the National Heart Foundation 'pick the tick' logo
To
highlight new food labelling laws for genetically modified foods
and ingredients
Last updated May 2002
