Australians have been urged to look before they cook and read the safety advice on food labels. The Food Safety Information Council (FSIC) issued the call ahead of Australian Food Safety week from Nov. 9 to 16.
Lydia Buchtmann, FSIC CEO, said the charity’s research shows that only 3 in 10 consumers always read cooking and storage instructions. “Food manufacturers are required by law to include this information on labels and following this advice plays an important role in reducing the estimated 4.67 million cases of food poisoning in Australia each year that result in 47,900 hospitalizations, 38 deaths, costing the economy AUD $2.
81 billion (U.S. $1.
8 billion). Foodborne disease isn’t always a minor illness; it can leave you with long term effects such as organ damage or reactive arthritis.” The survey was conducted nationally online in late August 2024 with 1,229 people aged 18 years and over.
Only 6 in 10 always read use by dates and 5 in 10 always read best before dates. However, the research shows there is a generally high rate of compliance with instructions, even if people don’t always read them. For example, 88 percent comply with use by dates, 83 percent follow best before dates, 83 percent comply with storage instructions and 74 percent abide by cooking instructions.
General advice There has been a marked improvement since the questions were last asked in 2013 with a 19 percent increase in reading cooking instructions and a 17 percent rise in complying with.