NSW law requires fast food outlets to display kilojoule counts

Fast food outlets in New South Wales will have 12 months to comply with the new kilojoule labelling regulations or face heavy fines. Photo / Thinkstock

There is praise in New Zealand for an initiative across the Tasman, forcing fast food outlets to display kilojoule counts.

Green Party food spokeswoman Sue Kedgley says she supports the idea of the food labelling law, which will be introduced to the New South Wales Parliament this week, and gives operators 12 months to comply or face heavy fines.

NSW Premier Kristina Keneally says forcing fast food restaurants in the state to display kilojoule counts on their menus was just the first step in a national campaign against obesity.

At a press conference in Sydney's south on Sunday, Keneally introduced an "Australian first" at a McDonald's restaurant.

And she agreed with the Australian Green Party that salt and saturated fat content should also be displayed.

"Certainly, from the Heart Foundation and other organisations there is a concern that we do need to provide consumers with a full range of information. Salt and fat is part of that," Keneally said.

"What we have said here is that displaying kilojoules is a first step. This scheme will come into place in February," she said.

Keneally explained that the new laws would be monitored by a reference group that emerged from last August's Fast Food Forum.

"That reference group will monitor the scheme and provide us with feedback and recommendations and let us know if changes need to be made.

"They will also look at how additional information, such as salt and fat can be presented to consumers."

Keneally said over half of adults are overweight or obese, as are 25 per cent of children.

However, she admitted that many families in NSW, including her own, choose to bring their families to fast food restaurants.

"We know that families are choosing to come to fast food restaurants. Indeed my own children enjoy, at least once a week, a meal either from a take-away or a fast food restaurant.

"It's convenient for families, it's often a low cost option for eating out, and certainly children do enjoy a fast food meal," she said.

But she said that this initiative to display the kilojoules was an effort to help people to make informed choices for themselves and their families.

"When a parent goes to the grocery store they're able to pick up a package, flip over to the back and look at the range of nutritional information.

"We say that they should have that same ability when they come into a fast food restaurant," she said.

The new laws state that all NSW major fast food retailers, with 20 or more stores in NSW or 50 or more stores nationally, will be required to display kilojoule information from February 1, 2011.

Kedgley believes it would be logical to introduce the concept in New Zealand so people can work out what is in the food they are buying.

She doubts it will happen however, saying the Government has been reluctant to do anything to help stop the obesity epidemic.

- AAP, NEWSTALK ZB