Junk food packaging — a challenge to the Prime Minister

Authors: Bebe Loff and Brad R Crammond

Med J Aust 2010; 193 (3): 192. || doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2010.tb03860.x
Published online: 2 August 2010

To the Editor: At the risk of appearing self-serving, we refer to our recently published article in which we recommended that there should be “greater uniformity in [food] packaging design, colour and descriptions”.1 In light of the Australian Government’s recent mandate on plain packaging for tobacco products,2 we can see no reason why this should not be extended to processed foods possessing no redeeming nutritional qualities. This would include soft drinks, potato chips, a great many of the so-called foods offered as replacements for fruit in children’s school lunches, biscuits and sweets. We challenge the Prime Minister and Minister for Health to do this, or explain why they won’t.

1. School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC.

Correspondence: Bebe.Loff@monash.edu

Loff B, Crammond BR. Wanted: politicians to champion health (not obesity). Med J Aust 2010; 192: 397-399.
Prime Minister of Australia. Anti-smoking action [media release]. 29 Apr 2010. http://pmrudd.archive.dpmc.gov.au/node/6720 (accessed Jun 2010).