Australian shoppers have been using the Health Star Rating (HSR) system to guide their food choices since 2014, but a recent analysis reveals uneven adoption and questions about its long-term effectiveness.
The HSR system, a front-of-pack labeling scheme, assigns a rating from half a star to five stars based on a calculation of a product’s nutritional profile. Factors considered include energy, saturated fat, sugars, sodium, protein, fiber, and the presence of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes. The intention is to provide a quick and easily understood indicator of nutritional value, allowing consumers to compare similar products.
Data from a study covering the period 2014 to 2019 shows that uptake of the HSR system was at 40.7% of eligible products in 2019, encompassing 7,118 out of 17,477 products surveyed across four major Australian retail outlets. The rate of voluntary adoption was increasing by approximately 6.8% annually, but researchers noted that maintaining this pace would be necessary to reach a target of 70% uptake by 2024.
Products displaying an HSR logo tended to be nutritionally superior to those without, with an average rating of 3.4 stars compared to 2.6 stars for unlabeled products. Over three-quarters (76.4%) of products carrying an HSR logo had a rating of 3.0 stars or higher. However, the study also highlighted that a small number of manufacturers – Coles, Woolworths, and ALDI – were responsible for the majority of the uptake (55.9%), while members of the Australian Food and Grocery Council accounted for 28.6%.
The voluntary nature of the HSR system has drawn scrutiny. The research suggests that relying on “commercial goodwill” may have limitations, and that achieving significant progress may require a shift towards mandatory implementation. The study’s authors indicated that clear targets and timelines, coupled with a pathway to mandatory adoption if progress stalls, are essential for the system’s continued success.
The Health Star Rating system is regularly monitored to assess its performance and consumer understanding, according to the system’s governing body.
