AFGC statement following appearance on ABC 7.30
11 February 2026
The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) supports informed discussion about nutrition and public health and believes these conversations must be grounded in clear, evidence-based information.
Australia already has one of the world’s most rigorous food regulation systems, with food safety, labelling and manufacturing standards that are among the strongest globally and continuously updated to reflect emerging evidence.
Quotes attributable to Director of Nutrition and Regulation, Dr Duncan Craig:
“Australians deserve clear, evidence-based information about the food they eat, and it’s important that discussions about health are grounded in science.”
“There is no global consensus on the definition of ultra-processed foods by food scientists,” Dr Craig said.
Dr Craig added that many foods that fall under the classification of ‘ultra-processed’ are safe, nutritious and affordable products that Australian families rely on. He emphasised that classifying foods purely by how they are processed does not accurately reflect their nutritional value. The level of processing alone is not a meaningful indicator of whether a food is healthy; what matters is its nutritional profile and how it contributes to a balanced dietary pattern.
Food processing plays an essential role in keeping food safe, practical and available for modern life. Without processing, everyday staples like bread would stale quickly, families would need to shop far more often, and emergency responses would lack the shelf-stable foods communities rely on.
Through food and beverage product development and reformulation, portion control measures, food labelling and collaborations with government, our members continuously meet consumer needs while contributing to public health and improving the food supply.
The Australian Food and Grocery Council remains committed to working with government, researchers and public health experts to improve dietary outcomes, support innovation and ensure that regulation remains evidence based.
Media Contact:
Ingrid Cruz
media@afgc.org.au
