Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

‘Natural’ Claims On Foods: A Review Of Regulations And A Pilot Study Of The Views Of Australian Consumers, P. G. Williams, J. Markoska, V. Chachay, Anne Mcmahon

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

The term ‘natural’ is often used on food labels, but is unregulated in Australia, except for prohibitions on misleading and deceptive conduct in the Trade Practices Act. This pilot study aimed to review definitions and regulations of ‘natural’ in Australia and internationally; record the ingredients used in a sample of foods marketed as natural; and examine consumer expectations about which ingredients could suitably be labeled natural. A survey of food labels at 12 food outlets recorded ingredients commonly used in foods marketed as natural. Consumer expectations were examined with a questionnaire about 25 ‘natural’ food ingredients. One hundred and nineteen …