Make healthier choices easier with Health Star Ratings
How to use the Health Star Rating system to make healthier choices as you shop
What is the Health Star Rating system?
The Health Star Rating (HSR) system is a voluntary front-of-pack nutrition labelling system for packaged food and drinks. It's designed to help you make healthier choices as you shop. The star ratings range from ½ to 5 stars and rate the nutritional profile of the product — the more stars, the healthier the product choice. Although the system is voluntary, more and more products have started displaying Health Star Ratings since it was launched in 2014.
How are Health Star Ratings calculated?
Health Star Ratings are calculated based on a product's:
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Energy content (kilojoules)
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Positive nutrients and ingredients that support general health including protein and fibre, as well as fruit, vegetable, nut and legume content
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'Risk' nutrients including sodium, saturated fat and sugar, that when consumed in high amounts are linked with poor health outcomes
Learn more about how Health Star Ratings are calculated here.
How should I use Health Star Ratings?
Health Star Ratings help you make healthier choices when choosing between similar products within the same category. You'll find HSR on the front of some packaged foods at Woolworths, making it easier to compare the nutritional content at a glance and quickly choose the product that's right for you. For example, a yoghurt with four stars is a healthier choice compared to a yoghurt with two stars.
Further information about the nutritional value of a product can be found in the Nutrition Information Panel, generally on the back of the packaging. For additional guidance on how to consume a healthy balanced diet, check out the Australian Dietary Guidelines here.
How does Woolworths use Health Star Ratings?
The HSR system is used to inform Healthier Options, a feature on select product pages that displays similar products that are at least ½ a star higher than the product you're viewing. You can also filter by Health Star Rating when browsing products online or in the app to help make healthier choices. As part of our commitment to making healthier easier, you'll find the Health Star Rating on all intended Woolworths own brand products including Macro, Woolworths, Essentials, Free From and Gold product ranges.
Health Star Rating — Frequently asked questions
The Australian, state and territory governments in collaboration with industry, public health and consumer groups created the system in 2014 and it was updated in 2020.
Products that are high in ‘positive' nutrients and low in ‘risk' nutrients tend to score a higher HSR. Comparatively, products low in ‘positive' nutrients and high in ‘risk' nutrients tend to score a lower HSR. Putting it to the test, a whole grain cereal that's high in fibre and low in sugar will generally score a higher HSR compared to a low fibre cereal that's higher in sugar.
Health Star Rating is a voluntary system that appears on some food and drink products. Some products are not expected to display a HSR, including herbs, spices, tea, coffee and foods where a Nutrition Information Panel is not required. Other products like infant formula and foods, alcohol, formulated sports foods and food for special medical purposes are not permitted to show a HSR.
Please note:
Links to non-Woolworths websites have been provided for information purposes only. Woolworths is not responsible for the content on those websites.
Health Star Rating trademarks are owned by the Commonwealth of Australia. Further information on the Health Star Rating can be found at www.healthstarrating.gov.au