Changes to Australia’s Health Star Rating were a key talking point at the most recent Food Ministers’ Meeting in Adelaide.
Australia and New Zealand’s food Ministers recently met, with observers from Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), to discuss and determine the future direction for Health Star Ratings on food products.
Australia’s Health Star Rating (HSR) is a front-of-pack labelling system that simplifies choosing healthier foods. The system rates the overall nutritional profile of packaged foods on a scale from 0.5 to 5 stars, with more stars indicating a healthier choice.
It’s currently used voluntarily by food manufacturers, and the star rating is displayed prominently on the front of food packaging.
The rating considers energy, saturated fat, total sugars, sodium, protein, fibre, as well as fruit, vegetable, nut, and legume content.
The goal is to offer a summary of a product’s nutritional quality, making it easier for consumers to compare options and select healthier choices.
Meanwhile, the Food Ministers’ Meeting is recognised as a key forum where state, territory, and federal ministers responsible for food regulation and health safety come together to discuss and make decisions on food policy and regulatory matters.
Ministers aim to ensure consistent and effective food regulation across both countries and the Commonwealth, address emerging issues in food safety and nutrition, and coordinate responses to national and international food regulation challenges.
The meetings are also instrumental in shaping food policy and regulatory frameworks to protect public health and support informed consumer choices.
Regulation of infant formula products
At the meeting, Ministers opted against revisiting Proposal P1028 – Infant Formula, a plan that was originally crafted by the FSANZ in 2013.
The proposal was designed to overhaul the regulation of infant formula under Standard 2.9.1 and promised several updates.
It proposes renaming specialised formulas to Special Medical Purpose Products for infants (SMPPi) and implementing sales restrictions, aligning nutritional content with global standards, and enhancing labelling practices.
These changes include mandatory nutrition information statements and a ban on proxy advertising, all aimed at providing clarity and protection for consumers.
Currently, mandatory information required on food labelling in Australia includes the product name, ingredients list, nutritional information panels, allergen information, date marking, country of origin, and contact details of the manufacturer.
FSANZ will also develop educational materials for various stakeholders.
The Ministers also approved documents for public consultation on improving the composition, labelling, and texture of commercial foods for infants and young children.
This initiative is aimed at aligning these foods with feeding guidelines and opened for stakeholder consultation in August 2024.
Health star rating system
Expressing disappointment in the slow uptake of the Health Star Rating (HSR) system, ministers agreed to FSANZ working with the Food Regulation Standing Committee (FRSC) on preparatory work for mandating the system.
This includes tackling specific issues such as the cost of living and inconsistencies across product categories. Additionally, a review of the Nutrition Information Panel (NIP) will be conducted to improve nutrition labelling.
Carbohydrate and sugar claims on alcohol
FSANZ presented research indicating that sugar and carbohydrate claims on alcoholic beverages do not influence consumer behaviour regarding alcohol consumption.
Ministers now await outcomes from Proposals P1049 (carbohydrate and sugar claims on alcoholic beverages) and P1059 (energy labelling on alcoholic beverages), which will be reviewed by the FSANZ Board in late 2024 or early 2025.
Proposal P1049 – Carbohydrate and sugar claims on alcoholic beverages seeks to clarify existing Food Standards Code permissions for nutrition content claims about carbohydrate and sugar on alcohol.
Meanwhile, Proposal P1059 – Energy labelling on alcoholic beverages is examining options for the declaration of energy content information in a prescribed format on the label of packaged alcoholic beverages.
If approved, the labelling will allow consumers to compare the kilojoule content of alcoholic beverages, just like they can for food products.
The Australian Government briefed Ministers on the FSANZ Act review, which followed consultations with 78 stakeholders, with non-confidential submissions set to be released will soon.
The Review Report will proceed through the legislative process, with additional discussions with the FRSC scheduled.
Ministers endorsed a system statement and regulator commitments to outline the purpose, roles, and participants of the food regulatory system.
FSANZ CEO Dr Sandra Cuthbert welcomed food ministers agreeing to the labelling work package.
“FSANZ’s Consumer Insights Tracker identified Australian and New Zealand consumers are looking to make healthy food choices, and they rely on food labels to help them do that,” said Cuthbert.
“The work on HSR and the NIP provides a unique opportunity to consider how nutrition labelling on the front and back of packaged food can be enhanced to better provide consumers with the information they need to make healthy choices.
“We look forward to working closely with food regulation system stakeholders as we progress work on HSR and the NIP.”
A Strategic Plan will be developed to guide the system’s focus over the next three years, emphasising safe and suitable food, a healthy food supply, informed consumers, and thriving food economies.
The Food Ministers’ Meetings are typically held at least twice a year and will continue to shape the future of food regulation and policy in Australia and New Zealand.
The FSANZ is an independent government agency responsible for developing and maintaining food standards for Australia and New Zealand.
Their role includes setting food safety and labelling standards, ensuring that the food supply is safe, and providing guidelines for food production and consumption.
The organisation also plays a crucial role in protecting public health and ensuring that food products are safe and accurately represented to consumers.