Australia mandates Health Star Ratings on all packaged foods by 2025

Australia will soon require Health Star Ratings (HSR) on nearly all packaged foods. The move follows years of voluntary labelling, which saw only 39% of products display the ratings. Public demand has grown, with 82% of Australians supporting the change to help them make better food choices. The HSR system was first introduced in 2014 but remained optional for manufacturers. By November 2025, the government aimed for 70% of foods to carry the labels. However, progress stalled, leaving many unhealthy products without clear nutritional information.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) will now propose making the HSR mandatory wherever a nutrition panel is required. This shift will force transparency on thousands of low-scoring items that currently omit the rating. The decision aligns with global trends—50 countries, including 19 with mandatory schemes, have already adopted the system. Developed with input from industry, consumers, and health experts, the HSR is backed by the World Health Organisation. It is seen as a cost-effective way to tackle diet-related diseases. Some products, such as baby formula and alcohol, will remain exempt from the new rules.

The compulsory HSR system will apply to most packaged foods in Australia. Shoppers will gain clearer insights into product healthiness, while manufacturers must now display ratings they previously could ignore. The change reflects both public demand and international best practice in food labelling.