Health Star Rating system to go ahead

The five-star rating system for food packaging has been approved by state and federal health and agriculture ministers. The labelling system will rate foods from half a star through to five stars, in half-star increments, based on foods’ nutritional value.

In addition to the star rating, packaging will display nutrient information for saturated fat, sugars and sodium, as well as optional information on one ‘positive’ nutrient such as calcium. An ‘energy’ icon will also display the per-serve kilojoule amount.

The system will be voluntary for two years, after which time it will be evaluated. If voluntary uptake of the system is not widespread, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) will develop a standard making the system mandatory.

“The Health Star Rating has been designed to replace the industry’s flawed Daily Intake Guide and the onus will now be on food companies to implement the system widely so that consumers can quickly compare products and make better choices about what they eat,” said CHOICE CEO Alan Kirkland.