Source: Australian Food News

Serving sizes in Australia are currently under review as a part of the Australian Government’s expected response to the labelling recommendations of the Government-appointed Blewett Review of Food Labelling Law and Policy. The Blewett Review panel released its report in February 2011.  In Australia and New Zealand, serving sizes are also determined by manufacturers. The Blewett Review Panel considered the US model of FDA mandated serving sizes. Blewett reported there was little indication that declarations of amounts of nutrients per standard serving size were helpful.  The Blewett Review Panel Report suggested a simpler approach, merely to declare nutrients per 100 gm/100 ml, while retaining the general statement on serving size.  Blewett recommended that the declaration in the Nutrition Information Panel of amount of nutrients per serve be no longer mandatory unless a daily intake claim has been made. 

The matter is also the subject of consideration by the Food and Health Dialogue which is a forum established by the Australian Government with food industry and health bodies to assist the Government in the development of food and nutrition policy and regulatory issues.

To read the full story, follow this link: www.ausfoodnews.com.au/2011/08/05/pressures-to-review-%e2%80%9cunrealistic%e2%80%9d-and-%e2%80%9cmisleading%e2%80%9d-serve-sizes-in-the-us-and-australia.html