Changes made to Health Star Rating system; further change required

Some positive changes have been made to the proposed Heath Star Rating (HSR) system, but further work needs to be done, the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) says.

“The improved design of the Health Star Rating scheme, flexibility around its introduction and acknowledgement that it can coexist with existing front-of-pack schemes such as the Daily Intake Guide and the Heart Foundation Tick are significant improvements,” said AFGC Chief Executive Gary Dawson.

“In addition, there is acceptance that it can be expensive for cash-strapped companies to adopt major labelling changes and therefore a voluntary approach with an extended five-year implementation period has been adopted.

“Ultimately, it will be up to food companies to assess the scheme and determine whether or not they adopt it.

“The AFGC absolutely supports the right of companies to make their own assessment given ongoing concerns about aspects of the calculator used to determine a food’s star rating and anomalies with respect to some food categories. Today’s ministerial council acknowledged the potential for the system to mislead consumers where a star rating may be inconsistent with the Australian Dietary Guidelines or when used to make comparisons across categories. This requires further work.

“The AFGC will also continue to support the Daily Intake Guide, which already provides clear front-of-pack nutrition information on more than 7000 products.”