The Australian Dental Association (ADA) is calling for reforms in the wake of a health review of 34,000 packaged foods with Health Star Ratings.
The George Institute for Global Health review showed that products with processed sugars were treated the same as naturally occurring sugars in the ratings algorithm.
The ADA is wanting to ensure added sugars are considered, and more clearly identified in nutrition labels.
ADA president Dr Hugo Sachs said it was long established that sugars are cariogenic – that is, causing tooth decay.
"The George Institute’s review shows that the Health Star Ratings are effectively hiding the presence of these added sugars in a number of products, meaning consumers are exposing themselves to increased risk of tooth decay," Sachs said.
"This lack of transparency goes hand in hand with the fact that many foods are marketed as healthy when they are not.”
He used dried fruit, biscuits (sweet and savoury), fruit juice, muesli bars, crackers, children’s cereals, flavoured milk, sweetened yoghurt, fruit bars, fruit slice, flavoured popcorn, canned fruit, baked goods and banana bread as examples.
Nationally, over 24,000 children aged 14 years or under were admitted to hospital due to dental conditions, and these hospitalisations were assessed as being potentially preventable.
