Skutta Tucker Indigenous health star rating helps improve Aboriginal diets
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A new food labelling system is helping Indigenous people in remote communities make healthier food choices.
Skutta Tucker is Aboriginal English for good food in the Kimberley in Western Australia, and is the name of the new labelling system.
The program was developed by Nindilingarri Cultural Health Services in the majority-Indigenous central Kimberley town of Fitzroy Crossing.
The health service worked with students from Fitzroy Valley District High School.
Nindilingarri's Amanda Cole said students wanted a way to be able to help their fellow community members to make healthy choices.
"It's like a cultural version of the health star ratings you see on packaged foods in other supermarkets," she said.
Diet-related disease is widespread in Aboriginal communities, with obesity and Type 2 diabetes being particularly common, according to peer-reviewed research.
The Skutta Tucker labels bridge gaps in language and culture, allowing Aboriginal people the opportunity to make healthier dietary choices.
"In our orange juice aisle, I know Orange C is a very popular drink up here, and I saw the 100 per cent orange juice was completely emptied out, and Orange C was still full, so that was exciting to see," Ms Cole said.
"These labels jump off the shelf and help people make a quick, easy and healthy choice."
The early success of Skutta Tucker has led to plans to expand the program.
"Next year we will hopefully put the labels into Yakanarra, Wangkatjungka and Bailey's Store," Ms Cole said.
"They have all shown interest, so that's really exciting."
Topics: diet-and-nutrition, indigenous-culture, fitzroy-crossing-6765
