FSANZ Seeks Feedback on Mandatory Health Stars
A second public consultation on Proposal P1067 would make the Health Star Rating mandatory on most packaged foods in Australia and New Zealand.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Healthy Food
Live Poll
Should all packaged foods be required to display a Health Star Rating?
Food Standards Australia New Zealand is calling for submissions on the second round of public consultation on Proposal P1067, which would require the Health Star Rating symbol on most packaged foods for retail sale where a nutrition information panel is required. The system remains voluntary while the proposal is under review.
Why it matters
A mandatory approach would make Health Star Ratings more consistently available to consumers and give industry and enforcement agencies greater regulatory certainty. The proposal reflects refinements made after feedback from the first consultation round.
The proposal would standardise the symbol's design and location and require a prescribed algorithm to calculate ratings. Whether the mandatory approach is approved remains unresolved, and FSANZ has indicated it supports reviewing the algorithm after the Australian Dietary Guidelines review concludes.
The players
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ)
FSANZ is the binational regulatory agency that develops food standards for Australia and New Zealand and manages the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.
The details
The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code would be amended through draft changes prepared by FSANZ, which is accepting submissions through the FSANZ Consultation Hub. The proposal would standardise the symbol's design and placement and require the rating to be calculated using a prescribed algorithm.
Timeline
Public consultation submission period closes on December 23, 2026.
Healthy Food Landscape
The proposal would amend the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code to convert the voluntary Health Star Rating into a mandatory front-of-pack requirement across most packaged foods sold at retail. It marks a shift from voluntary industry uptake toward binational regulatory standardisation of nutrition labelling.
If approved, the mandatory rating would appear on most packaged foods, giving shoppers a standardised symbol to compare products at a glance. A three-year transition period would give manufacturers time to adapt labels before enforcement.
The takeaway
Checking the Health Star Rating on packaged foods can help you compare similar products quickly, and the proposed standardisation would make that comparison more reliable across brands.
Further reading
For broader context on nutrition labelling and everyday choices, explore our Healthy Food coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Food Processing.
Live Poll
Should all packaged foods be required to display a Health Star Rating?
