Health star rating: 100 per cent juice stripped of five-star rating
State governments have decided Diet Coke is better for you than a glass of OJ. We reveal who backed the change, and why, and how the federal agriculture minister has reacted.
ORANGE juice has officially lost its health food cred — and will now be deemed worse for you than diet soft drink.
State and federal ministers today rejected a last-ditch bid for the breakfast staple to retain a higher health star rating.
Instead 100 per cent fresh juice will be downgraded from five stars to just 2.5 stars – less than diet Coke.
The decision will be a blow to Australia’s $736 million fruit juice industry, which earlier this week had pleaded with Victoria and Queensland – two states with large citrus industries – to oppose the downgrade.
However, it’s understood the Victorian, Queensland, Northern Territory and ACT governments all backed the lower rating for juice.
The changes come from an overhaul of the health star rating, to put more emphasis on the amount of sugar in food and beverages; however, no distinction is made between natural and added sugars.
Ministers at today’s food regulation forum were presented with further advice from the federal health department on how juice’s rating could be adjusted to take account of other nutrients such as vitamins and fibre.
Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said it was “madness” to reduce juice’s rating.
“How can anyone believe that the health star rating for drinks with nutritional value should be higher than 100 per cent fruit and vegetable juices?” Mr Littleproud said.
“They (the states) have made a mockery of the rating system and have ignored Australian Government and industry concerns.”
Mr Littleproud said the decision would harm citrus growing regions across Australia including Victoria’s Murray Valley, NSW’s Riverina and Queensland’s Central Burnett region.
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