What is the health star rating?

January 14, 2026 •

3 min read

Launched in Australia and New Zealand in 2014, the Health Star Rating (HSR) is a voluntary front-of-pack labeling system that rates the overall nutritional profile of packaged foods from ½ to 5 stars. The HSR provides a quick and easy way for consumers to compare similar packaged foods and make healthier choices.

Quick Summary

The Health Star Rating is a quick and easy tool for comparing the nutritional quality of similar packaged foods, with more stars indicating a healthier option. Its calculation is based on an algorithm that balances risk nutrients like saturated fat and sugar against positive nutrients such as fiber and protein. The voluntary system is primarily used in Australia and New Zealand.

Key Points

Quick Comparison Tool: The Health Star Rating (HSR) is a front-of-pack label that rates the nutritional quality of packaged foods from ½ to 5 stars, with more stars indicating a healthier product.
Nutrient Balancing Algorithm: A product's HSR is calculated using an algorithm that subtracts points for 'risk' nutrients like saturated fat and sugar, and adds points for positive components like fibre, protein, and fruit/vegetable content.
Compare Like-for-Like: The HSR is intended only for comparing similar products within the same food category, such as one breakfast cereal versus another, not across different food types.
Voluntary System: Because it is voluntary for manufacturers, there is inconsistent uptake, and it is more common to find the HSR on products that rate well.
Supplements Rather Than Replaces Information: The HSR is a summary tool, not a replacement for reading the full Nutrition Information Panel and ingredients list for a comprehensive view of a product's content.
Not a Guide to 'Naturalness': The rating does not account for the level of food processing or the presence of additives, which can sometimes lead to processed foods scoring higher than minimally processed alternatives.

What is the Health Star Rating and how does it work?

The Health Star Rating (HSR) system provides a visual shortcut for consumers navigating the supermarket aisles. Developed collaboratively by the Australian and New Zealand governments, public health experts, and consumer and industry groups, its purpose is to help consumers compare the nutritional content of similar packaged food products. A product's rating is displayed prominently on the front of the pack, making it a powerful tool for informed decision-making at the point of purchase.

How are Health Stars calculated?

The rating is determined using a specific algorithm that assesses both positive and 'risk' nutrients per 100g or 100mL of a product. This provides a consistent basis for comparing different foods within the same category. The calculation process involves balancing these nutrient scores to arrive at a final rating from ½ to 5 stars.

Positive nutrients and ingredients that increase a product's star rating include:

Dietary fibre
Protein
Fruit, vegetable, nut, and legume (FVNL) content

Risk nutrients and components that decrease a product's star rating include:

Energy (kilojoules)
Saturated fat
Sodium (salt)
Total sugars

Limitations of the Health Star Rating system

While the HSR is a valuable tool, it has several limitations that consumers should be aware of. Understanding these can help prevent misleading assumptions about a product's overall healthiness.

Voluntary application: The system is voluntary for manufacturers, which can lead to inconsistencies. Companies often apply the HSR to products with high ratings, while foods with low ratings are more likely to be left unrated. This selective use can hinder effective comparisons.
Category-specific comparisons: HSRs should only be used to compare products within the same food category (e.g., comparing one breakfast cereal to another) and not across different categories (e.g., a breakfast cereal with a yoghurt). This is because the algorithm differs based on the food type.
Doesn't evaluate whole foods or processing: The algorithm assesses individual nutrients, not the overall composition or degree of processing of the food. This can lead to anomalies where highly processed foods with fortified nutrients score higher than less-processed, natural alternatives. For instance, a processed margarine may have a higher HSR than natural butter.
No evaluation of additives: The system does not consider the presence of additives, such as artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives, in its calculation. To determine a product's 'naturalness' or additive content, consumers must still read the ingredients list.

Health Star Rating vs. Nutrition Information Panel

While the HSR offers a convenient front-of-pack summary, the Nutrition Information Panel (NIP) provides a more detailed, mandatory breakdown of a food's nutritional content. Both labels serve different but complementary purposes.


Feature	Health Star Rating	Nutrition Information Panel (NIP)
Purpose	Quick, front-of-pack nutritional comparison for similar packaged foods.	Detailed, mandatory nutrient breakdown per serving and per 100g/mL.
Rating Scale	Half a star to five stars, with higher stars indicating a healthier option.	No overall rating, but provides specific values for fat, protein, carbs, etc..
Comparability	Designed for easy, at-a-glance comparison within a food category.	Requires more effort from the consumer to analyze and compare products.
Mandatory	Voluntary for manufacturers, which can lead to inconsistent application.	Mandatory on almost all packaged foods by law.
Calculation	Based on a complex algorithm balancing positive and risk nutrients.	Presents a factual list of nutrient quantities as per the product's formulation.
Information Type	A simplified, visual summary of overall nutritional profile.	A raw data table of specific nutrient content.

Conclusion

The Health Star Rating system is a useful, quick-glance tool that helps consumers make healthier food choices when comparing similar packaged products. However, its voluntary nature and algorithm-based calculation have limitations, including inconsistent application and potential biases. While the HSR can guide you towards better choices, it should not replace general dietary advice. For a complete understanding of a food's nutritional profile, it is always best to consult the Nutrition Information Panel and ingredients list. For more comprehensive information, the official Health Star Rating website provides detailed guides for consumers and manufacturers alike.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Health Star Rating system is primarily used in Australia and New Zealand, where it was jointly developed by the respective governments in collaboration with public health and industry groups.

No, the Health Star Rating system is voluntary for manufacturers. This can lead to selective application, where some companies may choose to display it on their healthier products but omit it from others.

No, the HSR is designed to compare similar products within the same category. For example, you can compare one brand of cereal to another, but you should not compare a cereal to a yoghurt.

The rating is calculated using an algorithm that gives points for positive nutrients (like fibre, protein, and FVNL content) and deducts points for 'risk' nutrients (like energy, saturated fat, sugar, and sodium) per 100g or 100mL of the product.

No, since the system is voluntary, not all eligible packaged foods will display a rating. Some foods, such as fresh produce, tea, coffee, and alcohol, are exempt from using the system.

A higher star rating indicates a healthier option within its category, but it is not a signal to eat unlimited quantities. A balanced diet and recommended serving sizes are still important for good health.

The algorithm's focus on balancing nutrients can sometimes lead to processed foods scoring highly, especially if they are fortified with positive nutrients or are low in fat. The rating does not consider the level of processing or the source of the ingredients.