Health claims added to otherwise unhealthy products and other tactics are used to confuse consumers and keep them buying ultra-processed foods. So, what is the answer?
Growing up in the 1980s when the term “ultra-processed food” first emerged, navigating healthy from unhealthy foods seemed easy. And when you chose to eat unhealthy foods, you knew what you were getting.According to a new survey by VicHealth, one in two Australians struggle to determine which products are healthy, and three in five don’t know who to trust for nutrition advice. Erin MacLatchy is among them.
The issue, she says, is trying to choose between muesli bars, protein balls, crackers, dips, cheese and yoghurts. Health claims, like “low sugar”, “no artificial colours or flavours” and “natural”, are added to otherwise unhealthy products, while pictures of whole foods appear on products which contain minimal or no whole foods.“There’s so much noise disrupting our ability to make healthy choices,” says Martin. “It’s designed to do that.
Only 36 per cent of products carry the voluntary HSR, falling short of the government’s 60 per cent target.Credit:“That’s why now we think it’s time to make the mandatory,” says Murray. “Australians deserve clear and accessible info to help them make healthier decisions.”“You want to choose something healthy, but it’s hard to know if you are because… it’s more subjective on the packaging compared to if you had something more objective like a rating,” agrees MacLatchy.
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