South Australia is backing a national push to make Health Star Ratings mandatory on all packaged foods, with the State Government throwing its support behind new regulations aimed at helping shoppers make faster, clearer and healthier choices at the supermarket.
The move comes ahead of a Food Ministers Meeting on February 13, where a proposal will be considered to request Food Standards Australia New Zealand introduce nationwide rules requiring Health Star Ratings on packaged products.
Health Star Ratings, first introduced in 2014, provide a front-of-pack label scoring food from half a star to five stars based on nutritional value. The system awards points for positive nutrients like fibre and protein, and deducts points for ingredients linked to higher health risks such as sugar, salt and saturated fat.
Despite more than a decade of availability, the ratings have remained voluntary. A national target set in 2020 aimed for 70 per cent of eligible packaged foods to carry the label by November 2025, but uptake reached only around 39 per cent.
Health Minister Chris Picton says the time for voluntary adoption has passed.
“Health Star Ratings make it easier for people to make healthier choices in the supermarket aisle, without needing to spend extra time squinting at the ingredients and info panel on the back.”
“It’s been 12 years since these ratings were introduced and seven years since we set voluntary targets for the industry to meet in adding them to their products.”
“Sadly, the industry hasn’t come close to that target and we don’t think it’s fair to the public or our health system that this information isn’t more up-front and readily available.”
The proposal is being supported by public health organisations nationwide, including the Public Health Association, Australian Medical Association, Cancer Council Australia, Diabetes Australia and the Heart Foundation, as well as recommendations from the World Health Organisation.
State leaders say clearer labelling could help address rising chronic disease and obesity rates, which remain a major driver of healthcare costs and long-term illness across South Australia.
“Unhealthy eating is driving up obesity rates and increasing the risk of chronic disease in South Australia, so we’re putting our foot down and making it very clear that Health Star Ratings must become mandatory on all food packaging in Australia,” says Picton.
“We are taking every step possible to keep our state informed when it comes to their health, so they make better choices for themselves and their loved ones.”
The push forms part of South Australia’s broader preventive health agenda, which includes the establishment of Preventive Health SA, restrictions on junk food advertising across public transport, and ongoing public education campaigns focused on nutrition and lifestyle.
