Media release: Voluntary Health Star Ratings have failed to deliver – time to make them mandatory

New Zealanders are being encouraged to make submissions in support of mandatory Health Star Ratings on packaged foods, with consultation on the proposal closing on 5 July.

In the latest Public Health Communication Centre Briefing, nutrition experts argue that the voluntary system has fallen well short of its goals, limiting people's ability to compare foods and reducing incentives for manufacturers to improve the nutritional quality of their products.

Lead author University of Auckland's Dr Sally Mackay says research shows consumers value easy-to-interpret front-of-pack nutrition labels, yet only 36 percent of eligible packaged foods in New Zealand currently display a Health Star Rating despite more than a decade of voluntary implementation.

"This is well below the target of 70 percent uptake set by Food Ministers for November 2025," says Dr Mackay.

The Briefing argues that voluntary use has allowed manufacturers to selectively display ratings on healthier products, reducing the effectiveness of the system and limiting people's ability to compare similar foods.

"Mandatory Health Star Ratings would create a level playing field for the food industry while encouraging manufacturers to reformulate products by reducing sugar, sodium, saturated fat and energy content," says Dr Mackay.

Health Star Ratings were introduced in Australia and New Zealand in 2014 and use an algorithm to assess the overall nutritional quality of packaged foods and non-alcoholic beverages. Products receive a rating from half a star to five stars, with higher ratings indicating healthier choices.

Front-of-pack nutrition labelling is recommended by the World Health Organization as a highly effective policy for promoting healthier diets. Evidence shows such labels can help improve dietary choices and encourage product reformulation that contributes to preventing chronic diseases including heart disease, diabetes and some cancers.

The Briefing comes as Food Standards Australia New Zealand consults on a proposal to make Health Star Ratings mandatory. The authors argue there is a strong case for timely approval of a mandatory system, followed by an independent evidence-based review to further strengthen its design, visibility and transparency.

The Briefing also highlights that New Zealand Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard voted against progressing work on mandatory Health Star Ratings at a February 2026 meeting of Australian and New Zealand Food Ministers, despite support from the majority of ministers.