HEALTHY FAST FOOD CODE

We found more than 40% of menu items being marketed using claims may not have complied with the requirements of the code. In 2015, we assessed the claims fast food chains were making on their websites to promote the nutritional value of their foods. How honest are fast food chains in their claims? We noticed fast food chains were increasingly using claims on their websites, and given how influential claims are on food choice, we decided to investigate these claims being made by chains. However, any food sold in Australia is subject to this code, and there has been no scrutiny of the claims being made by fast food outlets. Previously, there has been close scrutiny of grocery foods carrying these sorts of claims, and whether they comply with the requirements of the code. In addition to containing the minimum/maximum quantities of the nutrient, foods carrying these claims must also meet the Nutrient Profiling Scoring Criteria, meaning they are healthier foods based on their energy, saturated fat, sugars, sodium, protein, fibre and fruit, vegetable, nut and legume content. Health claims are those that relate to a food-health relationship, such as “contains calcium for healthy bones”. Foods with these claims must meet the minimum (or maximum) quantities for the nutrient in the claim, called the qualifying criteria.

HEALTHY FAST FOOD CODE

The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code defines nutrition content claims as those that state the presence or absence of a nutrient, for example, “contains calcium”. Many chains are now using claims about nutrient content and health benefits on their websites to create a marketing edge and perhaps make us feel less guilty about our next fast food purchase. Promotions and marketing on labels and websites influence our decisions about the foods we buy. We know the fast food environment influences our food choices. Alongside traditional burger, fried chicken and pizza chains, new chains are positioning themselves as healthier alternatives to the typical, energy-, saturated fat-, sugar- and salt-laden meals on offer at traditional chains. Each month, 11.5 million Australians consume fast food.

Healthy fast food