Food companies in New Zealand have not met the target for using health star ratings on their packaging, falling far behind the goal set for this year.
The rating system, which gives food a score from 0.5 to 5 stars based on its nutrition, was meant to help people make healthier choices. But as of November 2024, only about 33% of the products that should have the labels actually do. This is well below the 70% target for 2025.
The health star system was updated in 2019, setting goals to gradually increase the number of labelled products. But many unhealthy foods still don’t carry a label, as companies prefer not to show a low rating if it’s not required.
Professor Lisa Te Morenga, a nutrition expert, said companies are more likely to display stars on healthier products. Meanwhile, Consumer NZ believes the only way forward is to make the labels compulsory, saying manufacturers have had enough time to act.
Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard said companies are also waiting for clearer rules before they invest in new labels. A meeting with Australian officials in 2026 may lead to talks about making the system mandatory, but a final decision might not come until a year later.
Hoggard said the government will consider how useful the system is and whether it adds costs. He said he doesn’t want to do anything that could raise food prices.
Supporters of the scheme believe mandatory labels would help shoppers choose healthier foods and push companies to improve their recipes.
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