Most vegetables don't make the cut under Health Star rating system

The Health Star rating system fails on one significant count, according to AUSVEG: almost no fresh vegetables qualify for the five-star rating, despite their being minimally processed and beneficial to good health.

Consumer group Choice and the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) are disagreeing over how the system should be implemented; now, AUSVEG has joined the debate, highlighting a number of flaws in the proposed system.

“The proposed Health Star rating system is far from perfect. Currently, almost no fresh vegetables qualify for the top, five-star rating, despite the countless scientific studies linking vegetables to better health,” said AUSVEG spokesperson Hugh Gurney.

“There is currently an FSANZ approved health claim that ‘a high intake of both fruit and vegetables can reduce the risk of developing coronary heart disease, the primary cause of death in Australia’, yet many vegetables do not attain a five-star rating based on the criteria developed by FSANZ.

“The current system also fails to take phytonutrients such as beta-carotene into account, despite it being linked to the prevention of eye disorders like macular degeneration. Vegetables are rich in these phytonutrients, and they should be considered when developing star ratings for individual items.

“Most fresh vegetables undergo minimal processing, contain high levels of fibre and low levels of sodium, and are linked to a number of health benefits, so it is laughable that these products would not qualify for a five-star rating under this system.”

A system that does not give fresh vegetables a top score is significantly flawed, Gurney claims.

“Policy must be thorough and well considered. The star rating system is neither. During the creation of this system, no regulation impact statement was prepared for consultation, nor does it comply with COAG’s best practice regulation requirements.

“This is not an appropriate answer to the question of addressing health in the community. When the vegetable industry is making statements against a health rating scheme, you know there must be something wrong.”