Health Star Rating (HSR) system - five year review

Overview

Correction

Please note that question 4.1.B (Sodium: preferred option) should read:

‘Decrease the maximum sodium levels used to determine baseline points for sodium to better reflect the range of sodium levels in the food supply’ as outlined on page 37 of the Consultation Paper, rather than increase (as noted in the table on page 57).

The Health Star Rating (HSR) system is a voluntary front-of-pack labelling (FoPL) scheme that rates the overall nutritional profile of packaged food and assigns it a rating from 0.5 to 5 stars.  With a focus on processed packaged foods, the objective of the HSR system is to provide convenient, relevant and readily understood nutrition information and/or guidance to assist consumers to make informed food purchases and healthier eating choices.

In July 2017, mpconsulting was engaged to undertake a Five Year Review of the HSR system (the Review).  Since that time we have consulted extensively with stakeholders and worked closely with the Health Star Rating Advisory Committee (HSRAC) to determine the extent to which the HSR system is meeting its objectives and also to identify options for improvements.

We now seek stakeholder views on 10 key issues relating to the products on which the HSR appears, and the way that stars are calculated.  These issues are described in the Five Year Review of the Health Star Rating system - Consultation Paper: Options for System Enhancement (also available at Related documents below).

In developing the Consultation Paper, we have drawn on detailed modelling undertaken by the Technical Advisory Group (TAG).  The technical papers developed by the TAG are also available at TAG technical papers.

We are mindful that some of the options proposed in the Consultation Paper differ to those modelled in the technical papers.  Where this is the case, we have explained our reasoning for proposing different or additional options.

We now seek stakeholder views on the issues and the options.  We also welcome input on the impacts of the various options, and any suggestions for alternative options to address the identified issues.

Further Consultation

In November 2018, mpconsulting will facilitate a further round of forums.  These forums will enable stakeholders to continue to provide input on key issues for the review, including on options for system enhancements.  The forums will be hosted in Sydney, Auckland and Melbourne.  As numbers will be limited for each of the sessions, we encourage stakeholders to RSVP.

Confidentiality

De-identified submissions will be published at the end of the consultation period, unless confidentiality has been requested.  De-identified information from submissions will also be provided to the HSRAC.

How to provide your views

Interested parties are invited to provide submissions via this online survey.

You may choose to respond to all issues or only to those which are of interest to you.  By clicking on Continue at the bottom of each page, you will be returned to the Consultation Contents page and can use the contents to navigate to each issue.  When you are done, click on Finish at the bottom of the Consultation Contents page.

This consultation period will be open from Friday 12 October 2018 until midnight Friday 7 December 2018 (extended from 23 November).