Food processing operations within one site are often carried out on the same processing line using the same equipment. This creates potential for ingredients from one product or process to be unintentionally carried over into the next product. This is called cross-contact or crosscontamination and is a particular safety issue for consumers with a known food allergy. These unintentionally carried over ingredients are not required to be on the food label which poses a risk to food allergic consumers.

Qualitative research, involving 15 major food and beverage manufacturing companies, with products covering 17 categories of foods and beverages, plus one retail chain, was undertaken. This aimed to collect information and opinions from all participants in relation to front of pack labelling on packaged foods and beverages.

The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code requires labelling of all foods containing
ingredients, ingredients of compound ingredients, food additives or components of food
additives, or processing aids or components of processing aids from specified allergenic
source materials. The regulatory process allows parties to seek an exemption from the
mandatory labelling requirements of the standard if it can be demonstrated that the inclusion of material from an allergenic source is not likely to present a risk of allergic reactions in allergic consumers.

Front of pack labelling (FOP) systems, including traffic light systems, may improve health by
encouraging consumers to chose healthier foods and by encouraging industry to produce
healthier foods. The Health Select Committee in its report “Inquiry into Obesity and Type 2
Diabetes in New Zealand” (August 2007) recommended that a traffic light system or comparable food labelling system be developed.

The purpose of the literature review is to evaluate available evidence on the use and role of fortified milk-based products in the diets of older infants and young children, in addition to the efficacy of such products on nutritional and health outcomes.

This document reports findings from qualitative research conducted for the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) in July 2013. The purpose of the research was to understand consumer perceptions and uses of follow-up formula and toddler milks, and the role these products play in the diets of infants and young children aged six to 36 months in Australia and New Zealand.

Many consumers are attempting to use nutrition labels. However, the level of success in correctly using nutrition label information varies. Consumers find current labelling schemes technical and confusing.

This paper reports on research to explore the feasibility of introducing front-of-pack (FOP) nutrition labels in New Zealand supermarkets (SIGnposting Nutrition Study SIGNS).

Nutrition labels aim to inform consumers about the nutrient value of foods and to guide food choices. Current labelling systems are not well understood or utilised by Māori, Pacific and low-income New Zealanders who are at significant risk from nutrition related diseases.

This paper presents research on the feasibility of front-of-pack (FOP) nutrition labelling in New Zealand and the feasibility of a large supermarket intervention trial to measure its effectiveness. It does so by exploring the views of key stakeholders from the food industry, government and non-governmental organisations using a semi-structured interview schedule.