An Australian and New Zealand governmental body looking into food regulations has rejected proposals to make the existing Health Star Ratings system mandatory.
Meeting in Christchurch, New Zealand, the Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation agreed that the existing system should continue to be voluntary but with options for interim targets in the next five-year period to be considered as part of its plans.
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Australian consumer group Choice had been amongst those pushing for the Health Star Rating system to be introduced on all processed and packaged foods.
The Forum decided against such a move but in its recommendations for enhancing the system, it said it wanted sugar counts reassessed and revealed it is considering the labelling of plant-based milk and meat alternatives “with a view to developing a policy guideline to adequately differentiate ‘synthetic’ animal products from their natural or conventional equivalents”.
In a statement it said: “The Health Star Rating system is a useful tool to assist consumers in making healthy food choices,” and added “it should continue with some amendments resulting from the review”.
Forum ministers discussed the role of the system in relation to fresh fruit and agreed that for some minimally processed foods, such as canned and frozen fruits and vegetables, having a five-star rating may be beneficial to consumers.
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By GlobalDataResponding to the recommendations, Choice’s Linda Przhedetsky told local broadcaster ABC she thought it was a disappointing outcome.
“State, territory and federal ministers are missing an important opportunity to close a loophole that lets businesses pick and choose which products use this helpful labelling system,” she said.
