PUTRAJAYA: With three weeks to go, only three fast-food operators have so far complied with the Health Ministry’s guidelines to display the nutritional content of their food on wrappers and posters.
“It will start on Jan 1 next year. If they do not display it, we will go after them,” said minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek yesterday to reporters after launching the advertising and information labelling guidelines for fast food.
Besides saying that he would announce the names of the errant companies to the press, Dr Chua added that if the companies still did not abide by the guidelines, there were plans to make it mandatory for them to do so under the Food Regulations.
In June, the ministry had given about 20 companies, an additional six months, to carry out the move.
So far, McDonalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken and A & W are the only ones prepared.
Dr Chua said the labels must clearly state the food content in terms of sugar, fat, salt, energy content and level of carbohydrates.
The labelling move, he emphasised, was to educate the public.
Based on the guidelines, the information for daily Recommended Nutrient Intake needs to be shown as a reference for consumers.
It should be displayed either on wrappers, boxes, tray liners, brochures, pamphlets or posters.
The brochures, pamphlets or posters need to be placed in locations easily visible to customers.
Additional information such as the serving size must also be stated.
Dr Chua said fast-food companies had promised to practise self-regulation through the Association of Accredited Advertising Agencies Malaysia (4As). Dr Chua said that among the moves to control advertising were that fast-food operators were not allowed to sponsor children shows on TV, provide inaccurate or confusing dietary information and advertisements which encourage over-eating of the food.
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