Still time to comment on new food labelling regs

IN A new move to control the often-outrageous claims made, the Department of H ealth has drafted amendments to the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act with an appendix that defines what the department considers “non-essential” foodstuffs. This is a two page listing of what are defined as “foodstuffs not considered essential for a healthy diet” – and will refuse the manufacturers of these products the right to make any health or nutritional claims in their labelling or advertising. It is aimed at what many describe as “rubbish foods”, and includes the likes of chocolates, sweets, chewing gum, soft drinks and other defined beverages, fruit nectars, biscuits, cakes, certain savoury fast foods, sugars, syrups, creamers, dry soups, flavoured fat spreads or margarines, commerciallyprepared pies and sausage rolls, “health” bars, jellies, desserts, chips, and dips. This makes SA one of the first countries to introduce such regulations, Jenny Pienaar, partner of lawyers Adams and Adams, told FTW. Imported foods would be subject to the same regulations, and importers would therefore need to ensure that their products conformed. “The department of health has taken a robust approach to better informing consumers of the nutritional information they need.” But the new regulations will need to be accompanied by a comprehensive information campaign, otherwise they could prove to be counterproductive. “Many consumers already consider nutritional information difficult to understand,” she added, “and, if it is not presented in a userfriendly manner in future, consumers would simply not read it.” Although other observers also see it as an improvement in SA’s standards of food labelling and advertising , they also point to the possible knock-on cost effect of the new regulations. They not only define where health and nutritional claims can be made, but restrict font size, lettering and colouring of packaging; require all companies to include the country of origin on any foodstuffs sold in SA; and demand that all labels must appear in at least one official SA language. “This could push up a lot of food prices,” said one. But, Pienaar added, the draft regulations are not finalised, and the department of health is open to comments and complaints before year end.