The people of New South Wales will have more information about the food they're eating than the people of Queensland when new menu labelling laws come into effect today.
Fast food chains with 20 or more outlets in NSW or 50 nationally, must display the kilojoule (kJ) content of standard food items on their menu boards at the point of sale.
This will help consumers compare the energy content of meals and make informed choices about the food and beverages they purchase and consume.
The introduction of this legislation was proposed for Queensland on 4 December 2011 and the Heart Foundation is seeking the support of the Queensland Parliament, in the next term of government, to pass this important legislation.
Heart Foundation Chief Executive Officer Cameron Prout says Queenslanders deserve to have the same information as their counterparts over the border.
By providing consumers with the kilojoule content of food and beverage items we believe people will be better equipped to decide what the healthier choice is.
Australians are eating out more than ever. Every day 4 million Australians eat out at fast food or snack food outlets, consuming 3.8 billion meals every year.
And yet when we buy a meal, we have no idea how many kilojoules are in it, or how it compares to other items on the menu, Mr Prout says. Often a meal may appear to be healthy , but consumers have little idea if this is true or not.
Heart Foundation research shows that Australians are looking for solutions to help them make better choices on foods they like to eat, with nearly 90% wanting healthier choices at fast food and snack food chains.
We also know from research that consumers often significantly underestimate the kilojoules that are in the foods they buy, which is why it is important to give Queenslanders the facts.
The average daily energy requirement of Australian adults is 8700 kilojoules. If a person consumes more kilojoules than their body uses, the spare energy is stored as fat and they will put on weight.
Over the past 20 years, the average weight gain of Australian adults was 0.5 to 1kg per year (a mean energy imbalance of around 420 kJ per day), so helping people to make healthier decisions every day can significantly impact this.
Overweight and obesity is now the leading cause of premature death and disability in Queensland. With 1 in 3 adult Queenslanders being overweight and 1 in 4 obese; and 1 in 4 children in Queensland also overweight or obese; the time for action is now.
We need supportive legislation like this to encourage Queenslanders to make healthier choices, Mr Prout says.