Food giant revealed to make unhealthiest food in the country as calls mount for HSR to be mandatory

A new global health study has found that one of the biggest food companies in the world has the lowest average health star rating in Australia.

Food giant Mondelez – which owns the likes of Cadburys chocolate, OREO biscuits and Philadelphia cream cheese – scored the lowest average rating of just 1.3 stars.

Nestle Australia followed closely afterwards with a 1.5 star average, while Schweppes and Unilever Australia both achieved just 1.9 stars.

One of the biggest food companies has the lowest average health star rating in Australia

The study from The George Institute of Global Health also revealed that only 28% of food and drinks display health star ratings.

Mondelez – along with General Mills (which scored 2.9 stars) and PepsiCo (3.1 stars) – has opted out of the health star rating system entirely, and the Federal Government is now being urged to make it compulsory across all food and drink brands.

Alexandra Jones, lead author of the study, said the system must become mandatory if it's going to deliver the maximum impact.

Alexandra Jones, lead author of the study, said the system must become mandatory if it’s going to deliver the maximum impact.

A formal five-year review of the health star rating system will take place in 2019 and once it concludes, the study has recommended the system becomes mandatory.

‘HSR should be made mandatory to maximise its public health impact in assisting customers to make informed food purchases and healthier eating choices,’ the study concluded.

Alexandra Jones, lead author of the study, told WA Today that some companies were using the health star rating system as a marketing tool by keeping it off junk food labels and only using it on the packaging of healthier foods.

‘I understand why it began as a voluntary system – it was pragmatic decision,’ she said.

‘But with the five year review, we can iron out these issues and the main point is the system must become mandatory if it’s going to deliver the maximum public health impact.’

‘HSR should be made mandatory to maximise its heath impact,’ a new study has said

Co-author Bruce Neal echoed Alexandra’s thoughts, saying that the government needs to ‘close the loophole’ for food and drink companies that don’t use the health star rating system.

Coles and Woolworths, which hit health star ratings of 3 and 3.6 stars respectively, were both found to be using the system on the majority of their products.

Regional Health Minister Bridget McKenzie told reporters that food and drinks companies across the country have been ‘very engaged’ with the focus on healthier eating, with PepsiCo revealing that its snacks would soon be showing health stars.

Some companies are using the health star rating system as a marketing tool and only including it on healthy foods while keeping it off unhealthy junk food products, the study found

Some companies are using the health star rating system as a marketing tool and only including it on healthy foods while keeping it off unhealthy junk food products, the study found



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