WIMMERA health professionals have welcomed new laws that require fast food chains and supermarkets to display kilojoule counts for their food and drink.
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The state government introduced the laws this month, designed to improve people’s health and well-being by reducing their kilojoule intake.
Studies have shown most consumers severely underestimate the amount of energy in the foods they eat.
Food chains and supermarkets are now required to display the average kilojoule content of ready-to-eat food and non-alcoholic drinks on their menus, food labels and price tags.
Some fast food restaurants, such as McDonald’s, already have these provisions in place.
Wimmera Health Care Group community health nurse Nicole Miller said the new requirements would help people make better choices.
“The average fast food meal will often contain over half the kilojoules needed for the day,” she said.
“You might be eating far too many kilojoules without realising it.
“Kilojoule labelling will make it easier for you to make healthier food choices when eating out and taking away food and drinks.”
Mrs Miller said the new laws also required chains and supermarkets to display the average adult daily energy intake on their menus and display cabinets.
“The average adult daily energy intake is 8700kJ, so people will be able to see if they are picking a 4500kj meal that it is more than half of their recommended daily intake in one sitting,” she said.
“Our kilojoule requirements vary based on things like age, gender and physical activity. But a ball park figure is 8700kJ.”
Statistics show about two thirds of adults in Victoria are overweight or obese. About a quarter of the state’s children fall into the same categories.
Businesses will have a year to comply with the new laws.
Similar laws are in place in other states including NSW, South Australia and the ACT.
