Conference presentation
The Health Star Rating: How accurate is the new nutrition label?
USC Research Conference, 2014 (Sunshine Coast, Australia, 14-Jul-2014–18-Jul-2014)
University of the Sunshine Coast
2014
Abstract
On the 14 June 2013 the Legislative and Governance Forum on Food Regulation endorsed the use of the Health Star Rating; a voluntary front-of-pack label (FoPL) to be used on all packaged foods sold in Australia. The FoPL uses stars to rate the food, where more stars indicate a better nutritional choice. The purpose of the FoPL is to assist consumers in making healthier food choices and contribute to reducing the burden of chronic disease in Australia. It is therefore essential that the FoPL correctly classifies foods. The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of the new FoPL by reviewing the literature on the nutrient profiling model that underpins the Health Star Rating. The nutrient profiling model has been adapted from the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Nutrient Profiling Scoring Criterion (NPSC), which is a modified version of the United Kingdom's Food Standards Agency/ Office of Communications model (FSA/Ofcom). A systematic review of the literature was conducted through to December 2013 to identify all studies which aimed to verify the accuracy of the NPSC and the FSA/Ofcom model in rating the nutritional composition of foods. A total of 28 studies met the inclusion criteria of the systematic review and results confirm that the modified versions of the nutrient profiling model underpinning the Health Star Rating system have undergone validation testing. However, due to identified bias in these studies it is necessary and timely for research to be conducted to verify the accuracy of the new Health Star Rating system. Consumers can then have complete confidence in the stars when making healthy food choices.
Details
- Title
- The Health Star Rating: How accurate is the new nutrition label?
- Authors
- Sheri Cooper (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and EngineeringFiona Pelly (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and EngineeringJohn B Lowe (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
- Conference details
- USC Research Conference, 2014 (Sunshine Coast, Australia, 14-Jul-2014–18-Jul-2014)
- Publisher
- University of the Sunshine Coast
- Date published
- 2014
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2014 The Author.
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health - Nutrition & Dietetics; School of Health and Sport Sciences - Legacy; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99448799702621
- Output Type
- Conference presentation
Metrics
2 File views/ downloads
1678 Record Views