Telethon Kids Institute researchers have urged Australia’s Food Safety Ministers to hold their nerve and resist alcohol industry efforts to water down health labels that will protect Australian babies from the lifelong effects of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
“There is no excuse for us not to have clear and consistent warning labels on alcohol in Australia,” said Professor Carol Bower, a public health researcher globally recognised for her work on the causes and impacts of birth defects and advocacy for related public health policies and practice. “Many countries, including the US and France, already have mandatory pregnancy warning labels. We need to do it here.”
“Any effort to reduce the noticeability of the warning labels is against the best interests of Australian women and children.
“Research with consumers shows that using the colour red is crucial to indicate a serious warning.”
Professor Bower said that alcohol is a teratogen – a substance known to cause birth defects.
“Women have a right to know if a product can cause harm to their unborn child. Thalidomide has a clear warning that it can cause severe birth defects when taken during pregnancy, so everyone deserves to know that alcohol can cause severe birth defects, too.
“One reason women continue to drink during pregnancy is that they are unaware of, or underestimate, the severity of the risk. We need to provide that warning in the best possible way, based on solid evidence.”
Professor Bower said industry pushback based on the cost of changing labels was a furphy. Industry has said that the cost would be devastating.
“What is devastating are the effects of alcohol on the unborn baby. We had similar arguments from industry when we advocated for folate to be added to bread to prevent serious birth defects. The result of that initiative has been a significant reduction in neural tube defects and the sky didn’t fall for the bread-making industry.
“The Food Ministers have an important decision to make that will protect Australia’s babies and families and will prioritise people over profits.”
First published Thursday 16 July 2020.
About Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is a diagnostic term for severe neurodevelopmental impairments that result from brain damage caused by alcohol exposure before birth. People with FASD have impairments that are permanent and negatively impact on their development. FASD affects the ability to think, learn, focus attention and control behaviour and emotions. They may also be impulsive and often have low self-esteem and mental health problems. These impairments may also lead to problems at school, socially unacceptable behaviour, alcohol and other drug use, and early interactions with the justice system. FASD is a lifelong condition and there is no ‘cure’. Early diagnosis and interventions for the child with FASD and family support, strategies and services will help manage the impairments and allow the child to lead the best life possible.
In Western Australia, the prevalence of FASD is estimated to be 0.3 per 1000 births, but this is acknowledged to be an underestimate. In one high-risk area, 19% of 7-8-year-old children were found to have FASD.
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