The Australian Medical Association says the government must mandate the Health Star Rating (HSR) system without delay and not capitulate to external tactics to delay its implementation.
In its latest submission , the AMA called on Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) to move ahead with mandating the HSR system, describing it as a significant step towards strengthening Australia’s front-of-pack nutrition labelling and ensuring people have access to clear, consistent information about the food they buy.
AMA President Dr Danielle McMullen said the case for mandating the HSR system was unequivocal.
“Consumers deserve transparent, easy-to-understand information about the nutritional content of the food they are putting in their shopping trolleys,” Dr McMullen said.
“Right now, the voluntary system leaves people in the dark. Manufacturers are selectively displaying ratings on their healthier products, while quietly omitting them from less healthy ones. This distorts consumer understanding and makes meaningful comparisons impossible.”
After more than a decade of voluntary implementation, just 37 per cent of packaged foods display a health star rating — far short of the government’s 70 per cent target.
“There is no evidence that keeping the system voluntary will increase uptake,” Dr McMullen said. “Industry has had years to act, and the results speak for themselves. Without regulation, we will not see the scale of change needed to improve public health.”
The AMA notes there is strong public health and consumer support for mandatory ratings, with more than 82 per cent of Australians backing the requirement for all packaged foods. The World Health Organization also recommends front-of-pack nutrition labelling as a public health ‘best buy’, and 19 countries already mandate similar systems.
Dr McMullen said mandatory front-of-pack nutrition labelling was essential to ensuring consumers — not just those purchasing selectively labelled products — had equitable access to simple, meaningful nutrition information.
“Good food labelling is an important public health measure,” Dr McMullen said. “Clear, accessible and easily interpreted nutrition information helps people make informed choices, especially in a fast-paced food environment where decisions are made quickly.”
Dr McMullen said a well-designed and well-governed mandatory HSR system, supported by broader public education, would strengthen both Australia’s food labelling environment and national health literacy.
“People should be supported to obtain, process and understand the information they need to make appropriate health decisions,” Dr McMullen said. “Mandating the Health Star Rating system is a practical, evidence-based step toward that goal.”
Read the submission .
