Claims for food may need evidence

A proposed nutrition standard may mean all food claiming to be healthy will need scientific evidence to prove the claims are "correct and consistent".

The rules are outlined in a draft standard by Food Standards Australia New Zealand expected to be finalised in mid-2006.

"It's a clampdown on those low-level claims like 'reduced fat', '99 per cent fat free', that sort of thing," said spokeswoman Lydia Buchtmann.

"It tightens the rules governing claims so they are clear, correct and consistent, in a way that works well so consumers can trust it ... [and] make easier choices about eating healthier foods.

"That currently in Australia is covered by a code of conduct. In New Zealand there's not really any major regulations. We hope it will push manufacturers to make healthier products."

Green Party safe food spokeswoman Sue Kedgley said the move could target highly processed food that companies label as nutritious for marketing purposes.

"If it's going to mean you can't make any claim that something is healthy unless it's scientifically backed up, that's probably a good thing."

The proposal puts health claims that are labelled on food into two categories.

"[There are] general level claims either about the content of a food, such as 'this food is high in calcium', or about a general level health claim on a non-serious disease such as 'yoghurt high in X and Y as part of a healthy diet may reduce your risk of stomach upsets'," said Melanie Fisher, the organisation's general manager for food standards.

"Secondly, there are high-level health claims that describe the function of a nutrient, vitamin, mineral or other substance in relation to a serious disease, such as 'this food is low in sodium. Diets low in sodium may reduce the risk of hypertension'."

The organisation must assess and approve all high-level claims before the product was released on the market, she said.