Have you seen who’s behind the (not so) Healthy Star Ratings system?

I saw a TV commercial recently for Uncle Toby’s Oat sachets and the main focus of the advert was how amazingly healthy they are. Apparently these Oats achieve a “4 healthy star rating” – and the higher the star rating, the healthier the product. So they say. Whilst I don’t want to pick on oats specifically, as I think they’re probably one of the not-as-bad-as-the-other-cereals out there, it really highlights how dangerously misleading these Healthy Star Ratings are. Initially I thought the Healthy Rating System was just based on old, outdated (incorrect) advice, but when I saw who was involved in its creation, it took a far more sinister turn.

What are Healthy Star Ratings?

This is an Australian initiative, and it’s jointly funded by the Australian, state and territory governments, and developed in partnership with industry and public health and consumer groups.

I took a further look into these groups, who have jointly developed these ratings, and they include the Australian Beverages Council, and the Australian Food and Grocery Council.

And just who makes up these bodies?

Members of the Australian Beverages Council include:

• Coca-Cola Amatil Pty Ltd
• Coca-Cola South Pacific
• Heinz Australia P/L
• PepsiCo Australia Holdings Pty Ltd
• Red Bull Australia Pty Ltd
• Tropico Fruits Pty Ltd

Among many others… (Surely we're not going to ever see health ratings on Red Bull?)

The Australian Food and Grocery Council has on its board:

• Clive Stiff who is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for Unilever Australia & NZ – their brands include Bertolli, Streets Ice Cream and my favourite Flora pro-activ
• Trevor Clayton who is Chief Executive Officer for Nestle Australia Ltd
• Andrew Towle who is Managing Director for Kellogg (Australia) Pty Ltd
• Darren O’Brien who is Managing Director for Mondelez Foods Australia (better known as Kraft Foods and Cadbury)
• Michael Ryan who is General Manager of Mars Chocolate, and
• Peter West, Managing Director of Lion Dairy & Drinks

So the very companies who produce packaged, processed convenience food have very helpfully come up with a healthy star rating system? And we’re supposed to use this to tell us what is healthy food we should be eating lots of?

How to get a high star rating?

No surprisingly the star system is based on the old beliefs that whole grains are good for us, and fat to be avoided. Products receiving above 4 stars will include whole-grain foods, low-fat milk and reduced fat cheese, and extra lite (urgh I hate that word, theirs, not mine) spreads.

And how to get a low rating?

Products getting below 1 star include those that are full fat, regular fat yoghurt, high saturated fat cheese, salted butter, coconut oil (yes, they expressly list coconut oil on the less healthy foods list) and of course, untrimmed meats. So we can pretty much assume if it’s a natural, unprocessed, paleo food, it won’t get a high healthy star rating.

So I’ve come up with a new system to help you use the star rating system to identify healthy foods:

If it has a healthy star rating, avoid it tweet this quote

What’s your opinion on the Healthy Star Rating system?

Why Whole Foods Are Overlooked by the Star Rating System

One of the biggest flaws in the Healthy Star Rating system is that it almost completely overlooks unprocessed, single-ingredient foods. Whole foods like grass-fed beef, wild-caught salmon, free-range eggs, and fresh avocados do not have labels. Therefore, they are not eligible for a rating. Meanwhile, boxed cereals, artificially sweetened yoghurts, and margarine spreads can receive four or even five stars.

This reinforces the dangerous idea that health can be assessed by marketing claims on a label, instead of the nutritional integrity of the food itself. Real food doesn’t need a label or a tick of approval from a marketing committee. It speaks for itself.

Why “Low Fat” Isn’t Always Better

The obsession with low-fat products continues to dominate the criteria behind the star system. This outdated mindset fails to consider the importance of dietary fats for hormone regulation, brain health, and nutrient absorption. Natural fats found in foods like coconut oil, full-fat yoghurt, pasture-raised meat, and nuts are often labelled as unhealthy, purely based on saturated fat content.

On the other hand, ultra-processed low-fat alternatives with added thickeners, emulsifiers, and sugar replacements score higher, simply because they meet arbitrary macronutrient thresholds. This does not reflect current nutritional science and continues to mislead well-meaning consumers.

Where Sugar Hides in “Healthy” Foods

Products that are high in sugar can still achieve a favourable star rating if they contain added fibre or whole grains. Breakfast cereals, flavoured oat sachets, and even some children’s snacks are prime examples. Despite being loaded with sugar, these products manage to receive ratings of four stars or more because of their fibre content and reduced fat formulation.

This creates a false sense of health, especially for parents shopping for their children. They see a star rating, assume it has been vetted by experts, and make a purchase based on faulty assumptions. A bowl of sugary cereal does not become a health food just because it contains oats and is fortified with synthetic vitamins.

The Marketing Power Behind the Stars

Major food manufacturers are not simply following the guidelines, they are actively involved in shaping them. With their seats on boards and advisory councils, these companies have every incentive to design a system that works in their favour. The Healthy Star Rating becomes a marketing tool, not a scientific assessment of nutritional value.

It’s no coincidence that many of the products awarded high ratings are made by the very companies that helped draft the criteria. The system rewards processed food innovation over genuine nutrition.

What Shoppers Can Do Instead

Rather than relying on front-of-pack labels or star systems, it is more effective to build your shopping strategy around real food principles. Here are a few ways to make better choices without falling for industry-led health claims:

• Shop the perimeter of the store where the fresh produce, meat, eggs, and fish are located
• Read the ingredients list instead of the front of the packet
• Focus on whole, unpackaged foods that are naturally rich in nutrients
• Question health claims like “lite”, “low fat”, and “fortified”, which often signal a heavily processed product

Star Ratings and the Influence on Children’s Food Choices

Another major concern is how the star system influences food marketed to children. Brightly coloured boxes with cartoon characters and stars on the front create the impression that these are good daily choices. A muesli bar with sugar, seed oils, and flavour enhancers might still receive a four-star rating due to added fibre or oats.

Children should be learning about the benefits of real food, not trained to trust front-of-pack labels. A sliced apple with almond butter or a boiled egg with veggie sticks doesn’t come with a rating, but offers far more nutrition than a “healthy” snack bar from the packaged goods aisle.

Can We Really Trust Government-Endorsed Labels?

With industry lobbyists heavily involved in the creation and promotion of the star system, it's difficult to view it as an impartial guide. While the original intention may have been to improve public health, the result is a watered-down, easily manipulated system that benefits large food manufacturers more than the consumer.

True health comes from education, not marketing. The more informed consumers become about the sources and quality of their food, the less power these labelling schemes will hold.

How to Educate Friends and Family

It can be challenging to explain to friends or family members why something with a high star rating is not necessarily healthy. One strategy is to help them flip the box over and look at what’s actually inside. Highlight the presence of seed oils, preservatives, artificial flavours, and sugar. Compare that to a simple, real food alternative like roasted chicken, steamed vegetables, or homemade snacks using nuts and dried fruit.

Once people learn how to identify food quality themselves, they begin to trust marketing labels less and their instincts more.

Real Food Doesn’t Need a Star

Ultimately, if a food product is being promoted with stars, ticks, or heart symbols, it is most likely not a food that supports true health. Real food is found in nature, not in a factory. It is nutrient-dense, satisfying, and does not require fortification or marketing gimmicks to justify its existence.

If you want to eat better, ignore the stars and follow the ingredients. Your body knows the difference.