Healthy choices: food and drink classification guide
This guide outlines a food and drink classification system that can be used to increase availability and promotion of healthier food and drink choices.
The classification guide will:
- Identify GREEN, AMBER and RED foods and drinks according to the traffic light system
- Understand the processes used to classify foods and drinks as GREEN, AMBER or RED.
- Help organisations in Victoria to apply Healthy Choices across on-site food and drink retail outlets, vending machines and catering.
- Provide a comprehensive, quick reference example guide
FoodChecker
FoodChecker is our free online tool to identify GREEN, AMBER and RED food and drinks according to the healthy choices classification guide. Save time by entering your food and drink items to get an instant report.
Visit FoodChecker
Where to use the classification guide
The Healthy choices: food and drink classification guide can be used across organisations wherever where foods and/or drinks are sold or provided to employees, students, visitors and customers. This can include:
- food and drink retail outlets such as cafeterias, cafes, coffee shops, kiosks (including mobile food outlets) and coffee carts
- other on-site retail outlets that mainly sell foods and drinks (such as convenience stores)
- food and/or drink vending machines
- catering provided by the organisation for meetings, functions and events (such as workshops, conferences, community events, launches, celebrations and ceremonies) and training programs
- catering provided by the organisation for an external user group
- fundraising activities
- rewards, incentives, gifts, prizes and give-aways
- advertising and promotion
The guidelines apply to all foods and drinks, whether freshly made on the premises or supplied prepackaged.
Who is the classification guide for?
- staff responsible for policy implementation
- health promotion officers
- contract or procurement managers
- food service staff
- food and drink manufacturers and suppliers
- caterers
- employers
How to use the classification guide
The Healthy choices: food and drink classification guide should be used together with the Healthy choices: healthy eating policy and catering guide for workplaces.
You can use FoodChecker to assess items online according the classification guide
OR
Find out more details and how to implement the traffic light system here
Written and reviewed by dietitians and nutritionists at Nutrition Australia, with support from the Victorian Government.
Popular resources referencing this guideline
Unsure what guidelines apply to you?
Our goal is to empower organisations through expert, innovative and evidence-informed nutrition and healthy eating support.
Unsure what guidelines apply to you?
Our goal is to empower organisations through expert, innovative and evidence-informed nutrition and healthy eating support.
The Healthy Eating Advisory Service acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we operate. We pay our respects to them, their culture and their Elders past and present.
The Healthy Eating Advisory Service is delivered by experienced nutritionists and dietitians at Nutrition Australia Vic Division, with support from the Victorian Government.
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