Uptake of Australia’s Health Star Rating System 2014–2019

Shahid, Maria; Neal, Bruce; Jones, Alexandra

doi:10.3390/nu12061791

Cited by 40 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…As the HSR system is currently voluntary, manufacturers can selectively apply the HSR to products receiving higher ratings. For example, Shahid et al reported that for a number of manufacturers, there was a 1.9 to 2.5-star difference between mean HSR displayed on their products compared with their other products that did not display the HSR [23]. This is also supported by the finding that just over three-quarters of products in this study had an HSR ≥ 2.5 stars with a median across the whole sample at an HSR of 3.5 stars.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 76%

“…If the HSR was classifying foods correctly on the basis of ED, then we would expect a much lower percentage of high ED foods displaying a high HSR. This further adds to the body of literature, demonstrating the shortcomings of the HSR system [23,37,38,[40][41][42][43], and shows that it does not consistently discriminate between levels of ED, especially when considering high ED foods. The median ED of products with a high HSR was 1507 kJ/100 g, well above the cut-off (950 kJ/100 g), signifying the beginning of the high ED range [31].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

“…Despite the voluntary nature of the HSR and the propensity of manufacturers to apply the HSR to higher scoring foods, there was no significant difference between numbers of products with and without HSRs in each of the three ED categories. It could be hypothesised that if the HSR system was better aligned with ED, there would be a greater proportion of products with an HSR in the low ED category [23]. This is the first study to look at ED and HSRs, so it is not possible to compare this finding to the existing literature.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…The number of stars a product receives should increase as its ED decreases, giving this system the potential of assisting consumers in choosing lower ED options. Being a voluntary system for food manufacturers, only 40.7% had taken it up in 2019 [23]. It is evident that manufacturers are selectively applying the HSR to foods, which score ≥ 3.0 stars (i.e., healthier choices), and have been reluctant to display it on foods with lower star scores, although supermarket own brands have applied it across all products regardless of the score [24].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Energy Density of New Food Products Targeted to Children

2020

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High dietary energy density (ED) is linked to childhood obesity and poor diet quality. The Australian Health Star Rating (HSR) system aims to assist consumers in making healthful food choices. This cross-sectional study used 2014–2018 data from the Mintel Global New Products Database to describe the ED of new food products targeted to children (5–12 years) released after the introduction of HSR and examine relationships between ED and HSR. Products were categorised by ED (low < 630 kJ/100 g, medium 630–950 kJ/100 g, high > 950 kJ/100 g) and HSR (no, HSR < 2.5 low, HSR ≥ 2.5 high). Non-parametric statistics were used to examine ED and HSR. A total of 548 products targeted children: 21% low, 5% medium, 74% high ED. One hundred products displayed an HSR: 24% low, 76% high; 53 products with both high HSR and ED. The EDs of products differed by HSR (p < 0.05), but both group’s medians (HSR < 2.5: 1850 kJ/100 g, HSR ≥ 2.5: 1507 kJ/100 g) were high. A high proportion of new products had a high ED, and the HSR of these foods did not consistently discriminate between ED levels, particularly for high ED foods. Policies to promote lower ED foods and better alignment between ED and HSR may improve childhood obesity and diet quality.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 76%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Energy Density of New Food Products Targeted to Children

2020

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“…In New Zealand In 2016, 2 years after adoption of the HSR, 5.3% of packaged food and beverage products surveyed (n = 807/15,357) displayed HSR labels [6]. In Australia, 5 years after adoption of the HSR, it can be found on 40.7% of food products [7]. Similarly as in our study, where about three-quarters of products displaying Nutri-Score were A, B or C, in Australia more than three quarters (76.4%) of products displaying HSR had a HSR ≥ 3.0.…”

Section: Uptake Of Nutri-score In Belgium In the First Year Of Implemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Uptake of Nutri-Score during the first year of implementation in Belgium

Vandevijvere

2020

Arch Public Health

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Background Front-of-pack (FOP) nutrition labeling has been recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of a suite of measures needed to improve population diets. The voluntary Nutri-Score FOP labeling system, which was first implemented in France, was approved for implementation in Belgium by the Minister of Public Health in August 2018 and has been officially adopted in Belgium since April 1st 2019. We assessed the uptake of Nutri-Score by food retailers and manufacturers during the first year of implementation in Belgium. Main body In November–December 2019, pictures for 1781 products displaying Nutri-Score on the FOP were collected from the five biggest retailers, representing about 10% of products on the market in Belgium. About 90% of products displaying Nutri-Score on the FOP in 2019 were own-brand products from two major food retailers, while the few remainder were branded products. About 56% of products displayed Nutri-Score A or B while 26% of products displayed Nutri-Score D or E. Conclusion During the first year of implementation, > 1700 food products displayed Nutri-Score on the FOP in Belgium. While the majority of those products were healthier foods (Nutri-Score A&B), about one quarter of less healthy products (Nutri-Score D&E) already displayed Nutri-Score as well. In the meantime, all five biggest retailers, including discounters, have committed to display Nutri-Score on the FOP from 2020 onwards, which may increase pressure on other food manufacturers to improve uptake of Nutri-Score for branded products.

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Outcomes of a state-wide salt reduction initiative in adults living in Victoria, Australia

et al. 2023

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Purpose To assess any effects of a state-wide sodium reduction intervention on sodium intake, sources of dietary sodium and discretionary salt use at a population level. Methods Data (24-h urinary sodium excretion, self-report survey, a 24-h dietary recall) were collected cross-sectionally at baseline (2016/2017) and follow-up (2020) from adults in Victoria, Australia. Intervention activities included consumer awareness advertising campaign, public debate generation via mass media, strengthening existing policy initiatives and supporting food innovation with industry. Results There were 339 participants at baseline and 211 at follow-up, with 144 and 90 of participants completing a 24-h dietary recall, respectively. There was no difference in adjusted 24-h urinary sodium excretion between baseline and follow-up (134 vs 131 mmol/24 h; p = 0.260). There were no differences in the percentage of participants adding salt during cooking (63% vs 68%; p = 0.244), adding salt at the table (34% vs 37%; p = 0.400) or regularly taking action to control salt/sodium intake (22% vs 21%; p = 0.793). There were large differences in the quantity of dietary sodium sourced from retail stores (57% vs 77%, p < 0.001), and less sodium was sourced from foods at fresh food markets (13% vs 2%; p ≤ 0.001) at follow-up. No large differences were apparent for foods with different levels of processing or for food groups. Conclusion There was no clear population-level effect of the 4-year multi-component Victorian Salt Reduction Intervention on sodium intake with Victorian adults continuing to consume sodium above recommended levels. The findings indicate that more intensive and sustained efforts aiming at the retail and food industry with national level support are likely to be required to achieve a measurable improvement in sodium intake at a state level.

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Uptake of Australia’s Health Star Rating System 2014–2019

Cited by 40 publications

References 16 publications

Energy Density of New Food Products Targeted to Children

Energy Density of New Food Products Targeted to Children

Uptake of Nutri-Score during the first year of implementation in Belgium

Outcomes of a state-wide salt reduction initiative in adults living in Victoria, Australia

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