New Standard as Good for Consumers And Level Playing Field

Media Statement April 8, 2013

Wattie’s Welcome New Standard as Good for Consumers And Level Playing Field for Industry

Heinz Wattie’s has welcomed new food health labelling standard which includes 200 pre-approved food health claims.

General Manager of Marketing Tim Skellern says the standard signed off at the weekend by Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye are the basis for a level playing field for all food manufacturers and marketers, and will also help build consumers’ confidence in our food industry.

“At Wattie’s we have always applied rigor and integrity to what we say about our products and made an effort to ensure transparency on our packs about our products. This is as true of nutrition and health claims as it is of Country Of Origin statements, where as a matter of policy we have consistently declared origin voluntarily in line with what is required in Australia.

“The new standard will mean small wording changes to a limited number of our products due to changes in some of the definitions. Although there is a three year transition period, we will seek to make these changes as quickly as possible.

“However, we also see opportunities to communicate product attributes not previously allowed. Example of these are the benefit of some of the nutrients in food, such as ‘Vitamin C contributes to normal immune function’ or ‘protein is necessary for the normal growth and development of bone’.”

Mr Skellern says Wattie’s welcomes this development as part of providing greater clarity for consumers, and looks forward to future developments.

ENDS

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