Health ratings fail: Research reveals food star ratings are deceptive
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Research has revealed some of Australia’s favourite cereals are not as good for us as they are made out to be. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Australian not for profit consumer organisation, CHOICE says when the added sugar in food is properly accounted for, Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain and Nestle’s Milo cereal lose 2.5 of their four heath rating stars. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The consumer advocacy group is pushing for an overall of Australia’s health star rating systems for food and says customers don’t get the full picture when it comes to added sugar. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The health star rating system was introduced as a way to give consumers the ability to compare similar products and make a healthier choice more easily. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However CHOICE believes the system must be changed so products with added sugar can be penalised as it has been revealed Australia’s top-selling breakfast cereals can lose up to four stars when the added sugar is considered. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Right now, the health star rating algorithm treats all sugars the same,” CHOICE food expert Linda Przhedetsky told </span><a href="https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/food/food-star-ratings-fail-on-sugar-choice-c-182711"><span style="font-weight: 400;">7 News.</span></a></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It doesn't distinguish between extra sugar that's added to foods like breakfast cereals and naturally occurring sugars in dairy or fruits.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We're calling for health ministers to introduce added sugar labelling on all packaged foods and to ensure that added sugar is more heavily penalised.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The advocacy group has called for the health stars system to become a requirement for all foods and drinks as well as a guarantee that industries are not influencing the policies around food labelling. </span></p>
