Health star ratings: Orange juice’s health cred on the line

The fate of Australia’s much-loved breakfast staple’s health credentials is in the hands of Victoria and Queensland, industry says. Here’s what how the decision might affect Australian farmers.

OJ or Coca-Cola? Changes to health star ratings might make it harder to decide which is better for you. Picture: Richard Walker

CITRUS growers have one last chance to save the health credentials of fresh orange juice – and say Victoria and Queensland have the industry’s fate in their hands.

State and federal ministers meet this week to decide if 100 per cent fresh fruit juice should have a higher health star rating, after an overhaul of the system saw it downgraded from five stars to just 2.5 – less than some soft drinks.

Farmers warn the downgrade could harm the $736 million fruit juice industry, and are pleading with Victoria and Queensland – which both have large citrus industries – to oppose the downgrade.

“Unless these two states show leadership, fresh Australian juice will likely receive less stars than diet cola, based on a flawed system that assesses fresh juice on sugar content alone and does not recognise its health benefits,” Citrus Australia chief executive Nathan Hancock said.

At the ministers’ last meeting in November, Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud proposed giving juice a four-star rating, which was backed only by NSW and South Australia.

However, the federal health department is expected to provide further advice to this Friday’s meeting on adjusting juice’s rating to take into account other nutrients such as vitamins and fibre.

Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath did not respond to specific questions from The Weekly Times, only stating that “consultation is continuing to take place” ahead of the meeting.

A Victorian Government spokeswoman also did not answer specifics, stating: “Victorians should be given the information they need to make healthy choices – that’s why we have legislated kilojoule labelling, advocated for added sugar labelling on infant food and continue to support the national health star rating.”

Mr Hancock said the fruit juice industry had already seen a 30 per cent decline in production over the past 18 years, and the health star changes could make that worse.

“Reduced juice sales would cause Aussie farmers to remove (juice varieties), meaning significantly less money flowing to our rural communities,” he said.

“Reduced sales will also lead to significant job losses right across the supply chain, and less Australian brands.”