The number of stars displayed on the product is calculated using the Health Star Rating Calculator. The Calculator was developed in consultation with Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) and other technical and nutrition experts.
The Calculator balances positive nutrients with nutrients associated with risk factors for chronic disease.
The number of stars shown for most products are based on:
- Total energy (kilojoules).
- Saturated fat, sodium (salt) and sugar content – consuming too much of these risk nutrients is linked to overweight and obesity, some cancers, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
- Fibre, protein, fruit, vegetable, nut and legume content – consuming more of these nutrients and ingredients is good for your health.
The star ratings for all products are calculated based on a consistent measure of either 100 g or 100 mL of a product. This means the star ratings of similar products can be compared easily.
The Health Star Rating system does not consider other health effects of ingredients, products, processing methods or nutrients like vitamins and minerals. The Health Star Rating system can be used by shoppers, along with other information on the food package, such as the ingredients list and the Nutrition Information Panel.
The Health Star Rating does not replace dietary advice from a qualified dietitian, nutritionist or resources like the Australian Dietary Guidelines and New Zealand Eating and Activity Guidelines.
Comparing products
Use the Health Star Rating to make comparisons between similar foods, for example breakfast cereals to other breakfast cereals, and not breakfast cereals to yoghurts.
Different products are calculated differently. For example, the Health Star Rating for soft drink is calculated differently to that of yoghurt. For this reason, you should only compare similar products that are found in similar areas of the supermarket.
