A new website that provides information for food companies wishing to adopt the Health Star Rating Scheme was launched last week, only to be taken down a few hours later.
On Wednesday Michael Moore, the CEO of the Public Health Association of Australia, and also co-chair of the Technical Design Working Group developing the rating system, said: “Industry will now be able to provide clear information to consumers on the nutritional content of the food that they purchase and consume.”
But it was not to be. According to Fairfax Media, the star rating system website was pulled down, allegedly at the behest of a senior minister. A government spokesperson later said the website was still in draft, and had gone live in error.
The new rating system has been developed over two years by a working group that includes representatives of the food industry and consumer and public health groups, including Choice, The Heart Foundation and the AMA, and the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC).
The AFGC, however, has told Food & Drink Business it wants to see a cost benefit analysis of the scheme before it throws its weight behind the five star scheme.
“We support the Assistant Health Minister Senator Nash’s decision to implement a broader cost benefit analysis,” an AFGC spokesperson said.
“Once the cost benefit analysis has been completed, companies can have a proper assessment of the proposed scheme.”
The Health Star Rating Scheme gives an overall indication of a food’s nutritional quality using a rating of up to five stars on the front of food products, and was signed off by federal, state and territory food and health ministers in December 2013.
The website, when launched, promises to provide guidance to food companies wanting to use the star system on their packaging.
