Modernising Australian food law to address ultra-processed foods

Ultra-processed foods supply 42 per cent of Australians’ dietary energy and are now conclusively linked to higher risks of obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and increased mortality. Yet Australian food law treats danger chiefly as acute contamination rather than foreseeable chronic harm. This article argues that the existing concepts of ‘unsafe food’ in the Food Acts and ‘acceptable quality’ in s 54 of the Australian Consumer Law already accommodate chronic metabolic risk when interpreted in line with contemporary evidence. It sets out a practical reform package using nutrient ceilings, warning labels, marketing controls, stronger enforcement and expanded public-interest standing.