These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Selective industry adoption of a voluntary front-of-pack nutrition label results in low and skewed uptake: 10-year results for the Health Star Rating.
    Author: Keaney M, Maganja D, Barrett E, Pettigrew S, Jones A.
    Journal: Eur J Clin Nutr; 2024 Oct; 78(10):916-918. PubMed ID: 39103545.
    Abstract:
    Front-of-pack nutrition labelling (FOPNL) on packaged foods is recommended by the World Health Organization to promote healthier diets. Our aim was to assess uptake of Australia's FOPNL, the Health Star Rating (HSR), overall and by HSR score received (0.5 (less healthy) to 5.0 (more healthy) in 0.5 increments) after ten years of voluntary implementation. In a sample of 21,197 products, we found HSR uptake of 37% overall in 2023. Uptake was unevenly distributed, with 24% of products with an HSR ≤ 3 displaying the label, compared to 53% of products scoring ≥3.5 (p < 0.001). Low HSR uptake on poorly rated products demonstrates that most food manufacturers will only display FOPNL where marketing value exists in a voluntary system. Poor and uneven HSR uptake limits consumers' ability to meaningfully use the label to compare and choose healthier products. Government action is urgently required to make the HSR system mandatory.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]