Health Star Rating(HSR)
Definition
A voluntary front-of-pack labelling system — commonly called the five star rating system — that rates the overall nutritional profile of packaged food from ½ to 5 stars. Higher stars indicate a healthier choice relative to similar products.
Key Takeaways
- •Voluntary system — manufacturers choose whether to display it, but once shown the official calculation method is mandatory
- •Scores range from ½ to 5 stars; higher stars indicate a healthier overall nutritional profile
- •Six food categories each use different scoring tables — beverages (Cat 1/1D) are scored per 100mL; all others per 100g
- •Four negative nutrients (energy, saturated fat, sugars, sodium) are offset by positive nutrients (FVNL content, protein, dietary fibre)
- •The star rating must be recalculated and packaging updated whenever the recipe is reformulated
Regulatory Source
- FSANZ Implementation Guide v9— Official calculation methodology, scoring tables, and artwork requirements for the Health Star Rating system
- Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 (Commonwealth)
- Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code — Standard 1.2.7 (Australia & New Zealand)
Last verified against current standards: August 2026
Regulatory authority: Food Standards Australia New Zealand
What is the Health Star Rating?
The Health Star Rating (HSR) is a front-of-pack labelling system developed jointly by the Australian and New Zealand governments to help consumers quickly compare the nutritional profile of packaged foods. Displayed as a star rating between ½ and 5 stars, it provides an at-a-glance indication of how a product compares nutritionally to similar foods — the more stars, the healthier the choice.
The system is voluntary: manufacturers and retailers choose whether to display the HSR on their packaging. However, once a business decides to use it, the rating must be calculated using the official methodology set out in the Health Star Rating System Calculator and Style Guide (Implementation Guide v9, administered by FSANZ).
How the Score is Calculated
The HSR score is derived from a nutrient profile model that balances negative and positive nutrients, measured either per 100g or per 100mL depending on the food category.
Negative (baseline) nutrients — more of these reduces your star rating:
- Energy (kJ)
- Saturated fat (g)
- Total sugars (g)
- Sodium (mg)
Positive (modifying) nutrients — more of these improves your star rating:
- Fruit, vegetable, nut and legume (FVNL) content (%)
- Dietary fibre (g)
- Protein (g)
The final score is calculated as Baseline Points (V) minus Modifying Points (M). A lower final score yields more stars.
Food Categories
The system defines six food categories, each with its own scoring tables:
| Category | Products | Scored per |
|---|---|---|
| Category 1 | Non-dairy beverages, jellies, ice confections | 100mL |
| Category 1D | Dairy and dairy-alternative beverages | 100mL |
| Category 2 | All other packaged foods | 100g |
| Category 2D | Dairy foods (yoghurt, soft cheese, etc.) | 100g |
| Category 3 | Oils and oil-based spreads | 100g |
| Category 3D | Hard and semi-hard cheese | 100g |
Choosing the correct category is critical — an incorrect category will produce a wrong star rating even if all nutrient inputs are accurate. Category 1 is notably different from Category 2: beverages are scored per 100mL, and only energy and sugars are penalised as baseline negatives (saturated fat and sodium do not apply).
FVNL Content
FVNL (Fruit, Vegetable, Nut and Legume) content is the only ingredient-level input in the HSR calculation. It is entered as a percentage by weight of the finished product as sold, split into two types:
- Non-concentrated: fresh, frozen, canned, or refrigerated fruit and vegetables; nuts; legumes such as beans, lentils, and chickpeas
- Concentrated: dried or dehydrated fruit and vegetables, tomato paste, fruit juice concentrate — these count double in the scoring formula because concentration increases nutrient density per gram
Products with higher FVNL content earn more modifying points, directly improving the final score and increasing the star rating.
Automatic Ratings
Certain products receive an automatic star rating without going through the full nutrient calculation:
- 5 stars automatically: plain water, plain unflavoured milk, 100% unsweetened fruit or vegetable juice
- ½ star automatically: confectionery, sugar, honey, flavoured waters with added sugar, deep-fried snack products
Displaying the HSR on Pack
Once calculated, the star rating must be displayed using the official artwork from the Style Guide. The design includes the star graphic, an energy (kJ) indicator, and optionally up to two additional positive nutrient indicators. Modifying the graphic or displaying an inaccurate rating may attract scrutiny under Australian Consumer Law's misleading conduct provisions.
Reformulation and Ongoing Compliance
The HSR is tied to the specific nutritional profile of the product at the time of calculation. Any recipe reformulation that changes nutrient levels — even minor adjustments to fat, sugar, or sodium — may alter the star rating. Best practice is to recalculate the HSR after every recipe change and update packaging before the next print run.
Batchbase calculates the HSR automatically from your recipe's NIP data, flagging when a reformulation changes the rating so you can update your label artwork before going to print.