Packaged Foods Face Mandatory Health Star Ratings
If approved, most packaged foods sold in Australia and New Zealand would display a standardised Health Star Rating symbol.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Healthy Food
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Food Standards Australia New Zealand has opened a second public consultation on Proposal P1067, which would make the Health Star Rating symbol mandatory on most packaged foods sold at retail where a nutrition information panel is required. The proposal would also standardise the symbol's design and location and require a prescribed algorithm to calculate ratings, and the system remains voluntary while the proposal is under review.
Why it matters
A mandatory approach would make front-of-pack Health Star Ratings consistently available to shoppers, letting people compare packaged products at a glance when planning meals for themselves and their families. It would also give industry and enforcement agencies greater regulatory certainty, which is why the regulator is revisiting its approach after feedback from the first round of consultation.
This is a regulatory proposal rather than a clinical study, so no trial or cohort results are reported. The figures are the proposed 3-year transition period and 2-year stock-in-trade period that would apply if the mandatory approach is adopted.
The players
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ)
The regulator that develops food standards for Australia and New Zealand and oversees nutrition labelling rules that shape how packaged foods are presented to consumers.
The details
Under the proposal, draft amendments prepared by FSANZ would change the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code so that the Health Star Rating symbol appears in a standard design and location on most packaged foods where a nutrition information panel is required. The rating would be calculated using a prescribed algorithm, so the same product would receive the same score wherever it is sold. FSANZ has refined the approach after considering feedback from the first consultation, and submissions are made through the FSANZ Consultation Hub.
Timeline
Public consultation submission period closes on 23 December 2026.
The second consultation opened on 2 November 2026.
Health Landscape
The Health Star Rating has operated as a voluntary front-of-pack system, and this proposal would convert it into a standardised requirement under the Food Standards Code. The move reflects a broader regional push to make nutrition information easier to compare at the point of purchase.
If the mandatory approach is adopted, a standardised Health Star Rating would make it easier to compare packaged products when shopping for everyday meals. Anyone wanting to shape their diet around these ratings can use the symbol as one tool, and questions about individual nutrition needs are worth raising with a doctor or dietitian.
The takeaway
Clear front-of-pack labels help shoppers compare foods quickly, and a consistent rating is easier to rely on than a voluntary one. Watch the FSANZ consultation process for the final decision, and check the label on packaged foods you buy regularly.
Further reading
For more on how packaged food labels are shaped, see Healthy Food.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Food Processing.
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Should all packaged foods be required to display a Health Star Rating?
