Health Star Rating

Health Star Ratings are a quick and easy tool to help you make healthy choices when shopping. You can find them on the front of food labels. 

Health Star Ratings help you compare similar types of foods. When you’re buying packaged food – like cereal, dairy and canned food – you can use the rating to see which is a healthier choice. Ratings range from ½ (half a star) to 5 stars. The more stars, the healthier the choice.

The Health Star Rating does the hard work of comparing nutrients for you. It is based on a system that weighs up healthy and less healthy nutrients in food and drink to give them a star rating. 

• The Health Star Rating is mostly used on packaged foods and drinks. Fresh fruit and vegetables are given an automatic 5 star rating. To help keep you and your family healthy, try to fill your shopping trolley with plenty of these, and other foods from the 5 food groups. 
• For ideas on making meals using ingredients from the 5 food groups, try one of our healthy recipes. 

• The Health Star Rating system is voluntary. For products without a rating, you can use the Food Switch app. When shopping online you can also review supermarket websites for the Health Star Ratings of products.

• Learn more about how to understand food labels and menus.