The Australian Government will seek to raise a proposal at next week’s Food Ministers Meeting to mandate health star ratings on food products across Australia.
In 2020, Food Ministers agreed to consider mandatory labelling should the existing voluntary scheme fail to reach 70 per cent of products by 2025.
Recent data released by Food Standards Australia New Zealand shows just 37 per cent of products display a health star rating. This is a decline from the 41 per cent recorded in 2019.
We are committed to ensuring Australians have the information they need to make healthy choices and this is a sensible next step in the evolution of health star ratings.
Since 2014, health star ratings have provided consumers with a quick and simple way to compare the nutritional value of similar types of products they find on supermarket shelves.
Ensuring health star ratings appear on all products will enhance consumer choice and establish a level playing field for all food producers.
Recognising that health star ratings are intended only as a basic guide, we will also continue to monitor the effectiveness of the methodology used to determine health star ratings and will make updates as required.
A final decision on mandating health start ratings will be made after the Food Ministers Meeting receive advice about implementation options.
Quotes attributable Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care Rebecca White:
“Requiring all packaged food products to display a health star rating is a sensible next step that will enhance consumer choice.
“We know many Australians want to make healthier choices at the supermarket but don’t have time to read through complex nutritional tables or ingredients lists.
“Putting health star ratings on all products will ensure all shoppers can quickly and easily compare the different options on supermarket shelves.
“I’m hopeful that Food Ministers from across Australia and New Zealand will support this important public health initiative.”