Food manufacturers are expected to fall well short of voluntary targets for health star rating labels – originally hoped to hit 70% by today.
The rating is determined by an algorithm, on a scale of zero-point-five to five stars, based on a product’s nutritional content, comparing foods within one category.
Following a review in 2019, uptake targets were set, with a goal to hit 50% of intended products in 2023, 60% the next year and 70% in November 2025.
The Ministry of Primary Industries said the most recent data, from November 2024, had the uptake at around 33% of intended products.
New Zealand Food Safety deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle said uptake monitoring for 2025 would now begin, with that data available next year.
“It is anticipated in 2026 that food Ministers in New Zealand and Australia will consider whether to ask Food Standards Australia New Zealand to raise a proposal to consider mandating the system.”
Nutritionist and Māori health researcher Professor Lisa Te Morenga said uptake was strong for healthier products with higher star ratings.
“For unhealthy foods, no company is going to be that keen to put a half star or one star on a food if they don’t have to,” she said.
But Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard said businesses could also be wary of investing in a system that could change.
“What I heard from a number of businesses, they just wanted certainty around what’s actually going to be required on labels.”
Hoggard said a possible mandate would be discussed at the next face-to-face meeting with his counterparts from Australian states.
“It will be a decision to start the process to look at mandating, which will then pull together all the data, what might it cost, etc, etc. And then a final decision is probably made a year later.”
He said a range of factors would inform his input into the decision, such as whether the scheme worked to incentivise healthier choices, and whether there would be extra cost.
“I wouldn’t want to be doing anything that’s going to increase food prices right now,” he said.
Consumer NZ favoured mandating the scheme, saying food manufacturers have had many years to adopt the system and were so far “woefully short”.
Te Morenga agreed mandating the health star labelling was the best option.
“It’ll encourage manufacturers to make their products healthier,” she said.
“It will give the consumers the information they need to choose healthy food products. And it’ll also level the playing field for all food manufacturers.”
