Health groups will make obesity a big issue in the lead up to the state election and are calling for mandatory kilojoule labeling for fast food outlets.
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But the Napthine government has indicated it does not support moves to compel fast food restaurants to display the kilojoule content of their products.
The Obesity Policy Coalition, comprising the Cancer Council, Diabetes Australia, VicHealth and Deakin University, will launch an election platform on Friday that urges the state government to reduce children's exposure to unhealthy food advertising, and force fast-food chains to disclose the kilojoule content of their food.
They are also demanding changes to planning laws, which would make health a planning objective and let councils reduce the spread of fast-food chain outlets in their communities.
It comes as the Greens announce an election pledge to make fast-food chains display kilojoule labels on their menus in an attempt to help Victorians make more informed choices.
Executive manager of the Obesity Policy Coalition Jane Martin said research showed people ordered 500 fewer kilojoules when exposed to labelling.
"People are eating too many kilojoules, which is why we have a big problem with being overweight and obese. The leading cause of death and disability in Australia is now poor diet followed by tobacco smoking."
She said consumers were confused about the healthiness of food, and labelling would empower them to make healthier choices.
Food chains in SA, NSW, and the ACT must display the kilojoule content of the food they sell.
Greens health spokeswoman Colleen Hartland said the party's plan would apply to chains with 20 Victorian outlets or 50 nationally and would include coffee, bakery and snack food stores.
"With today’s busy lifestyles we are eating more fast food every week, but we have no idea of the energy content of the food and what it might do to our waistline or to our risk of contracting diabetes," she said.
"We have kilojoule labelling on food sold in supermarkets, but why not in chain food stores?"
A spokesman for Health Minister David Davis said the government looked forward to seeing more manufacturers and food processors put more detailed information on their products.
"The government believes there are many opportunities for chains and others to provide better consumer information and welcomes the attempts of many food services to do so."
About two thirds of Australian adults are overweight or obese and the health crisis has hit regional and outer-parts of Victoria particularly hard.
In 2010 the former Brumby government said it would compel chains with 50 or more stores to provide kilojoule labels on their menus.
The Coalition came to power before the legislation passed.
