Legibility and Readability of Labels

Legibility and readability of labels

Q. 22 Are there ways of objectively testing legibility and readability? To what extent should objective testing be required?

MCC wishes to address one specific aspect in regard to readability of food labels. A number of food premises within the Council area import foods. These foods are often known by and imported specifically for people living in Australia that have emigrated from the country of origin of the product. Analysis of the proficiency in English data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics for the City of Moreland in 2006 demonstrated 22.6% of persons spoke English only, and 21.8% spoke another language and English not well or not at all.

Proficiency in English
(overseas born persons aged 5 years and over) / City of Moreland
2006
Enumerated data / number / %
Speaks English only / 9,803 / 22.6
Speaks another language and English not well or not at all / 9,474 / 21.8
Speaks another language and English well or very well / 23,733 / 54.6
Speaks another language and English - proficiency not stated / 313 / 0.7
Not stated / 124 / 0.3
Total / 43,447 / 100.0

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing, 2006, 2001, 1996, and 1991.

This evidence supports a request that label overlays in English be positioned such that vital information to consumers (such as ingredient listings and nutrition information panel) whose first language is not English, do not cover or make the country of origin label unreadable.

References

Moreland City Council Communications, Research and Citizens Service Branch of Moreland City Council (2006). “Health Status of Moreland”, p.31.

National Heart Foundation of Australia. (1999). "A review of the relationship between dietary fats and cardiovascular disease." Aust J Nutr Diet 56 (4 Suppl):S5-S22.

Francis, Ken (2005). “Brazil, Argentina threat to Australian exports.” News Weekly, 19 November 2005, p.8.