Mandating health star ratings is a win. But food lobbies still have too much power over our health

Our food environment has been built to put profit over health — Australians can’t overcome that without stronger regulation and accountability

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Almost 13 years ago – and after a decade-long battle between health experts and the food industry – state and federal ministers voted to introduce a health star rating system to help consumers make healthier food choices.

It was voluntary, thanks to the food industry being at the bargaining table and the decision-makers being largely food, trade and agriculture ministers (rather than health).