Dental News - NZ government considers better labelling of sugary drinks

Dental Tribune International

Tue. 22. January 2019

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AUCKLAND, New Zealand: The current state of the oral health of some New Zealanders has been likened to that of developing countries. With many contributing factors resulting in the worrying comparison, one area that has gained much attention in recent months is the possible need for better labelling on food and beverages with a high sugar content.

As reported by Radio New Zealand, the New Zealand government is currently reviewing recommendations from the country’s food watchdog, Food Standards Australia and New Zealand, as to whether a teaspoon icon should be used on labelling on certain beverages to show how many teaspoons of sugar they contain.

In an interview on Radio New Zealand, the New Zealand Dental Association’s sugary drinks spokesperson Donna Kennedy said, “Parents say to me, ‘Oh, I didn’t know there was that much sugar in fruit juice! I thought it was healthy’.” Kennedy believes that if consumers can clearly see how much sugar there is in drinks, then it would be much easier to make more informed choices. “If you grabbed a glass of orange juice and you could see that it had nine teaspoons of sugar ... you would understand,” she explained.

With 26 countries now adopting a sugar tax, the New Zealand government is still reluctant to consider the measure; however, the move to labelling drinks with teaspoons showing sugar content is something New Zealand Labour MP Jamie Strange believes is a good step in the right direction. “The government has recognised that effective labelling of food and drinks does contribute to their objective to improve the health of New Zealanders. We’d like to see some clear action to actually enable customers to make informed choices about what they’re eating and drinking,” explained Strange to Radio New Zealand.

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