The following targets have been set to measure the success of the Health Star Rating system across a five year period (commencing on 15 November 2020).

  • Interim target 1 (at three years) - 50% of intended products have applied the Health Star Rating system by 14 November 2023.
  • Interim target 2 (at four years) - 60% of intended products have applied the Health Star Rating system by 14 November 2024.
  • Final target (at five years) – 70% of intended products have applied the Health Star Rating system by 14 November 2025.

Targets will be measured based on total stock keeping units (SKUs) intended to apply the Health Star Rating system. This in turn will:

  • Illustrate the absolute number of foods carrying the Health Star Rating irrespective of the market share of products,
  • Achieve the broadest coverage across the food supply, including by targeting both high selling and lower selling products, and
  • Maximise the information available to consumers at the point of purchase.

A Monitoring Framework has been developed to guide priority areas of enquiry for the HSR system over the period 2023-2025.

A Monitoring Plan outlining the specific areas of enquiry for the Year 3 (2023) interim target has also been developed.

Uptake of the Health Star Rating system, November 2023

Following the uptake target date for interim target 1, analysis shows the HSR is displayed on an estimated:

  • 32% of intended products in Australia; and
  • 30% of intended products in New Zealand.

These results were considered by Ministers at the 8th Food Ministers Meeting on 3 May 2024. Read the communique from the meeting: Food Ministers' Meeting communique – 3 May 2024.

The full report is available below:

Queries about the report can be directed to frontofpack@health.gov.au.

What are the intended foods?

Foods intended to carry the HSR system are those that:

  • Are permitted to use the system; and
  • Are required by the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (Code) to have a nutrition information panel (NIP); and
  • can vary in nutritional composition.

If the composition of a food can be varied, within regulatory constraints, to yield different foods, and a profiling mechanism exists within the Health Star Rating system to detect compositional variation in those foods and rank them nutritionally, they will be comparable and therefore should be included within the scope of the Health Star Rating system.

Foods considered to vary in nutritional composition are individual foods that have a nutrient composition that can be altered (multi-ingredient processed packaged foods) and foods where similar products can vary in nutritional composition (for example foods such as flour and oils).

Based on the above definition, foods such as flours and cooking oils are intended to carry the Health Star Rating as they are not exempt from carrying a NIP and can vary in nutritional content across similar products (e.g. wholemeal flour vs plain flour or sunflower vs olive oil vs coconut oil). Eggs, sugar and baking powder however are not intended to carry a Health Star Rating, despite being required to carry a NIP, as their composition does not vary significantly across products.

What are the permitted foods?

While the Health Star Rating system is not intended to be used on some foods (e.g. unpackaged foods, foods not required to carry a NIP) these products are not expressly excluded from using the Health Star Rating system and are considered permitted foods.

Plain packaged water, fresh and some packaged fruits and vegetables are not required to carry a NIP and are considered to be permitted foods, but not intended foods, for the purposes of the Health Star Rating system.

Although permitted foods are able to use the Health Star Rating system, uptake in these categories will not count towards uptake targets.

What are the excluded foods?

Some products are excluded from the Health Star Rating system.

Specific products that must not display the HSR system graphic include:

  • Certain Special Purpose Foods in Part 2.9 of the Code where there are required compositional formulations, namely:
    • Infant formula products – Standard 2.9.1 of the Code;
    • Food for infants – Standard 2.9.2 of the Code;
    • Formulated Supplementary Foods for young children – Standard 2.9.3 Division 4 of the Code (including toddler milks and formulated supplementary foods intended for young children);
    • Formulated Supplementary Sports Foods – Standard 2.9.4 of the Code; and
    • Foods for Special Medical Purposes – Standard 2.9.5 of the Code.
  • Alcoholic beverages (>0.5% alcohol by volume);
  • Beverages that contain less than or equal to 0.5% alcohol by volume, resemble an alcoholic beverage (e.g. in look and/or taste) and are marketed as a non-alcoholic variant or brand extension of an alcoholic beverage. This includes, but is not limited to, beverages labelled and advertised as ‘alcohol-free’, ‘non-alcoholic’, ‘zero alcohol’, ‘de-alcoholised’ and ‘alcohol removed’
  • Alcohol kits
  • Kava.

In addition, the HSR system graphic should not be displayed on products that are not eligible to carry nutrition content claims and health claims, as listed in Standard 1.2.7 of the Code, which includes products:

  • that are intended for further processing or labelled prior to retail sale
  • delivered to a vulnerable person by a delivered meal organisation
  • provided as an institutional meal