A voluntary front-of-pack labelling system that rates the overall nutritional profile of packaged foods from half a star to five stars.
A voluntary front-of-pack labelling system that rates the overall nutritional profile of packaged foods from half a star to five stars. The Health Star Rating is a voluntary front-of-pack labelling system that gives packaged foods a rating from half a star to five stars, with more stars indicating a better nutritional profile. It is designed to let shoppers compare similar packaged products at a glance. Because it is voluntary, manufacturers choose whether to display it, and it is government backed rather than part of the mandatory Food Standards Code requirements. The rating is worked out using a calculator that balances components generally considered to increase risk, such as energy, saturated fat, sugars and sodium, against components generally considered beneficial, such as fruit and vegetable content, fibre and protein. The system is intended for comparing foods within the same category, so it is most useful for choosing between similar products rather than across very different food types. For a manufacturer, displaying a Health Star Rating means running the product through the official calculator to determine its star value, then showing the rating consistently and honestly on the front of pack. Because participation is voluntary, a business can choose whether to display the star graphic, but if it does, the rating must reflect the product as calculated under the system. For shoppers and food businesses comparing products, the rating is a quick guide to relative nutritional quality within a category, best used alongside the nutrition information panel and ingredient list rather than in place of them. The system is maintained by government under the health portfolio, and the official website provides the calculator, style guide and current guidance. A breakfast cereal manufacturer runs two of its products through the Health Star Rating calculator, finds one scores four stars and the other two and a half, and chooses to display the ratings on the front of each pack so shoppers can compare the two cereals within the same category.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Health Star Rating mandatory?
No. It is a voluntary front-of-pack system, so manufacturers choose whether to display it, and it sits alongside rather than inside the mandatory Food Standards Code requirements.
What is the rating scale?
Foods are rated from half a star up to five stars in half-star increments, with more stars indicating a better overall nutritional profile.
How is the rating calculated?
An official calculator balances risk nutrients such as energy, saturated fat, sugars and sodium against beneficial components such as fruit and vegetable content, fibre and protein.
Can I compare a snack food with a vegetable using stars?
The system is designed to compare similar products within the same category, so it is most reliable for choosing between comparable foods rather than across very different types.
Should I rely only on the stars?
No. The rating is a quick guide best used together with the nutrition information panel and ingredient list, not as a replacement for reading the label.
