Imagine a world where choosing healthy food is as simple as looking at a label. Sounds ideal, right? But here’s the harsh reality: despite a major victory in mandating health star ratings, the food industry’s grip on our health remains alarmingly tight.
Nearly 13 years ago, after a decade-long battle between health advocates and the food industry, Australian state and federal ministers voted to introduce a health star rating system. This system aimed to guide consumers toward healthier choices by assigning star ratings to packaged foods. However, the initial rollout was voluntary—a concession to the food industry’s lobbying power and the dominance of food, trade, and agriculture ministers in the decision-making process, rather than health experts.
At the time, there was a glimmer of hope: if food manufacturers didn’t widely adopt the label, legislation would force their hand. Fast forward to last Friday, and ministers finally voted to make the health star rating mandatory. This long-awaited decision highlights the tenacity of public health experts, who have fought against a powerful food and agriculture industry that continues to shape health policies in its favor.
Since its introduction, the health star label has faced relentless pushback from food and grocery lobbyists, who lament the high implementation costs while conveniently ignoring the billions spent on treating diet-related diseases. Ironically, these same companies seem to have no trouble funding aggressive marketing campaigns for unhealthy foods, often targeting children.
And this is the part most people miss: despite the voluntary system, only 39% of food manufacturers have adopted the health star ratings. Worse, some producers have manipulated the system by reformulating products to boost their star ratings. For instance, a sugary, processed breakfast drink with added fiber might score higher than plain milk. The current system doesn’t account for ultraprocessed foods or additives like emulsifiers and artificial flavorings, leaving consumers with an incomplete picture of a product’s healthiness.
Because the system was voluntary, manufacturers could simply omit the label if it reflected poorly on their products. While public health groups like the Australian Medical Association and Dieticians Australia celebrate the mandatory label, some experts argue the system should be scrapped entirely in favor of clear warning labels on unhealthy foods. However, most health groups agree that starting over would mean another grueling battle with an industry they believe wields too much power.
Even with the mandate, challenges remain. Drafting and approving the legislation will take about a year, and the food industry will likely push for a lengthy transition period. The health star calculation itself needs reform to better reflect manufacturing processes and overall health, especially as research on ultraprocessed foods evolves. But this won’t be enough.
Here’s where it gets controversial: The federal government is developing a national food policy heavily influenced by profit-driven food and agriculture industries, with minimal input from independent health experts. There’s also a troubling lack of transparency around who funds health lobbyists, allowing harmful industries to shape policies without accountability.
Australia lags behind other countries in taxing sugar-sweetened beverages, a proven health measure, due to fierce opposition from the food industry and major political parties. In this context, suggesting that individuals simply make wiser food choices feels naive. For families struggling with the cost of living, unhealthy options are often the cheapest, while relentless marketing and confusing additives make informed choices nearly impossible.
Our food environments prioritize profit over health, and expecting individuals to overcome this without stronger regulation and corporate accountability ignores the systemic forces at play—what experts call the commercial determinants of health. Mandating health star ratings is a step forward, but without political will for transparency and meaningful corporate accountability, diets of cheap, unhealthy foods—and the health inequities they create—will only deepen.
What do you think? Is the health star rating system enough, or do we need a complete overhaul of how we label and regulate food? Share your thoughts in the comments—let’s spark a conversation that could shape the future of our health.
