The Glycemic Index (GI) Symbol Program

There is growing public awareness of the Glycemic Index (GI) and an increasing number of products with GI values and claims on labels. However, there are still many inconsistent and confusing messages about the GI to consumers.

For this reason, three organisations (the University of Sydney, Diabetes Australia and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) formed a non-profit company (Glycemic Index Limited) to operate a food licensing program - the Glycemic Index Symbol Program.

The program aims to help people make informed food choices, by encouraging food companies to communicate the GI of their products, to highlight the GI values on pack labels and increase consumer understanding of the GI.

From May 2002, products began bearing the new 'Glycemic Index Tested' symbol.

Foods are eligible to join the program if they have been GI tested using the approved, in vivo, methodology, contain a minimum of 10 grams of carbohydrate in a serving and satisfy a set of food group-specific nutrient criteria (primarily to ensure they are not high in fat or sodium).

Funds from licensing are directed to the program's operational costs and to education and research about the GI.

What the GI symbol means
When you see the GI Symbol on a food package label, you will find the GI value of that food near the nutrition information panel, along with the words 'high', 'medium' or 'low'. The value will be a reliable measure based on proper testing in real people.

You will also know that the food meets the GI Symbol Program's nutritional criteria which are different for different food types, but generally mean the food is a good nutritional choice for that food group.

The logo helps you select foods to create a diet which, overall, is lower in GI but which has room for healthy high GI foods.

Foods cannot be judged on the basis of their GI alone - other considerations are fibre and fat content, and nutrient density.

Further information about the GI Symbol Program can be found at http://www.gisymbol.com.au.