Dairy companies are worried that their wares could fare poorly under the front-of-pack star rating system that was approved this week by state and federal ministers.
Products like milk and cheese could be seen as an unhealthy option under the new star rating system, which is underpinned by a modified Nutrient Profiling Scoring System, according to the Australian Dairy Industry Council (ADIC).
The initially voluntary star system, which will apply to packaged, manufactured or processed foods, uses a rating scale of half-a-star to five stars depending upon the levels of individual nutrients such as saturated fats.
“By breaking foods into separate nutrient components, some dairy products may have received fewer stars which would have led to consumer confusion about whether or not they should eat dairy as part of a well balanced diet,” said ADIC chairman, Noel Campbell.
He said The Australian Dietary Guidelines acknowledge that adequate intakes of milk, yoghurt and cheese are linked to a reduced risk of several chronic diseases including heart disease and stroke.
“This evidence relates to all varieties of milk, cheese and yoghurt including regular, reduced-fat and flavoured varieties,” Campbell said.
In a communique, the ministers who approved the rating system have said that the nutrient profiling on the front of packaging of dairy products would be examined more closely over the coming months.
The ADIC said the dairy industry welcomed the continued examination of the system and its impact upon this core food group.
“It is essential that this new labelling system clearly aligns with Australian Dietary Guidelines so consumers can make positive food choices that are based on recommended daily intakes,” said Campbell.
The Front-of-Pack Labelling (FoPL) is designed to support consumers to make healthier food choices by giving them at-a-glance information about the food they buy.
However the Australian Food & Grocery Council has also voiced fears that some food groups would be unfairly disadvantaged under the system.
“An effective FoPL system will need to resolve issues such as how the star system is calculated to avoid anomalous ratings that will undermine the credibility of the scheme and potentially mislead consumers,” AFGC CEO Gary Dawson said this week.
The diary industry has until December to find a solution to this issue.
