Australia & New Zealand Close Proposal on Added Sugars Labelling

On 23 March, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) closed the proposal to list added sugars separately in the nutrition information panel, concluding that it would be unlikely to deliver a clear public health benefit and could impose significant costs across the food system.

The proposal assessed whether the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code should be amended to mandate separate added sugars labelling, following a request from food ministers to review whether such information would better support healthier consumer choices aligned with dietary guidelines.

The review concluded that separate added sugars information was unlikely to significantly influence consumer behaviour, as consumers already rely on total sugars declarations when comparing products. FSANZ also highlighted the risk that added sugars labelling could confuse or mislead consumers, undermine trust in food labels and encourage choices inconsistent with dietary guidance. Importantly, the agency determined that the compliance costs associated with mandatory added sugars labelling would be disproportionate to any potential public health benefit.