Australia’s Health Star Rating (HSR) system, designed to provide an easy way for consumers to assess the nutritional value of foods, is under scrutiny from paediatric nutritionist Mandy Sacher, who labels it as ineffective. Sacher argues that many processed snacks are misleadingly marketed as healthy due to flaws in the rating system. To tackle this, she has developed her own evaluation method, the Real Food Rating, which aims to deliver a more accurate assessment of food quality.
Sacher’s findings indicate a significant discrepancy between her system and the HSR. For instance, while muesli bars might receive a rating of four to four-and-a-half stars under the official system, they only secure one-and-a-half to two stars in her analysis. She criticises the HSR for allowing food manufacturers to manipulate ratings by simply adding beneficial ingredients like protein or fibre, without addressing the overall healthiness of the product, which may still be high in sugar or unhealthy fats.
The HSR has been in place for over ten years, yet it’s not mandatory for food businesses to follow its guidelines, leading to potential misuse. Foods that contain more protein, fruits, vegetables, or nuts receive higher star ratings, while those high in sugar or saturated fats are penalised. Nevertheless, the inclusion of processed ingredients often goes unaccounted for.
This manipulation of ratings has raised concerns among experts. University of Sydney senior research fellow Philip Baker advocates for scrapping the existing system in favour of alternative methods, such as front-of-pack warning labels that have been successful in other countries.
Sacher has analysed all muesli bars available in the market through her Real Food Rating, revealing that products with poor HSR ratings frequently omit the information from their packaging. She believes that consumers deserve a straightforward, compliant system to guide their purchases, particularly for parents making choices for their children.
While changes to the HSR system are anticipated next year, including increased scrutiny and efforts to enforce compliance, Sacher urges consumers to remain vigilant in the meantime. The need for a clear and accurate nutritional rating system is more important than ever, to ensure that shoppers can make informed and healthy dietary choices.