Data and analytics company, GlobalData, has revealed that 71 per cent of consumers in Australia say that low-calorie/low cholesterol food and drink products are essential when deciding which to purchase. This data comes as Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) gains industry support for its proposed introduction of new health-conscious labelling standards for alcoholic beverages.
The proposed labelling requirements aim to provide consumers with more transparent and useful information about the content of alcoholic beverages, including carbohydrate, sugar, and energy values.
During FSANZ’s first Consumer Insights Tracker (CIT), a survey of 2000 Australian consumers on food system understanding and opinions, the organisation found that 30 per cent of respondents didn’t trust back-of-pack labelling information, and 60 per cent didn’t trust front-of-pack health claims, with 45 per cent distrusting the Health Star Rating (HSR).
In light of these findings, FSANZ is aiming to accelerate labelling reformation to better support consumers to make informed and healthy dietary choices.
The proposed alcohol labelling regu
lations are part of the wider initiative to enhance food and beverage transparency, responding to growing concerns about public health and the need for clearer information on product ingredients.
- Proposal P1059 – Energy labelling on alcoholic beverages is examining options for the declaration of energy content information in a prescribed format on the label of packaged alcoholic beverages. If approved, the labelling will allow consumers to compare the kilojoule content of alcoholic beverages, just like they can for food products.
- Proposal P1049 – Carbohydrate and sugar claims on alcoholic beverages seeks to clarify existing Food Standards Code permissions for nutrition content claims about carbohydrate and sugar on alcohol.
GlobalData consumer analyst, Kakarlapudi Karthik Varma, said preference for low-calorie alcoholic beverages is rising due to growing health concerns.
“FSANZ's proposals reflect a growing trend towards health-conscious consumerism, and the organisation is confident that these changes will not only benefit consumers but also strengthen the relationship between manufacturers and their customers through improved transparency and trust,” said Varma.
FSANZ's research has revealed that consumers are generally unaware that alcohol is the main source of energy in wine, beer, and spirits. FSANZ’s consumer literature review and meta-analysis study found that consumers tend to believe that sugar is the primary source of energy in these beverages.
The regulator asserts that a mandatory approach to providing energy content information on alcoholic beverages would ensure greater coverage and consistency, enabling consumers to make informed choices.
Other industry opinions
Asahi, a major beverage company, emphasises that consumers desire the option of no or low sugar and carbohydrate products, and they want this information clearly displayed on the label.
The New Zealand Food and Grocery Council (NZFGC) is in favour of including content for alcoholic beverages with more than 1.15% ABV. This will enable producers to provide accurate information about the level of sugar and carbohydrates in their products, offering transparency to consumers.
The NZFGC and The George Institute Australia, support the use of an Energy Information Panel instead of Nutrition Information for the declaration of energy content. They also recommend presenting energy content per 100ml. However, the terms “serve” and “serving” should not be used on alcohol packages, to avoid generating a health halo for alcoholic products.
The NZFGC suggests considering an option that allows flexibility in presenting energy content information, accommodating imported products with slightly different formats to comply with mandatory labelling requirements.
“For consumers, this change signifies a critical step forward in terms of health awareness,” said Varma.
“Alcoholic beverages contribute significantly to the daily energy intake of many individuals, and clearer labelling is expected to provide a better understanding of how alcohol fits into their overall diet. These labels would allow consumers to compare the energy content of different products and make choices that align with their health goals, whether related to weight management or overall wellbeing.”
