AUSVEG has backed the calls of Australia’s fruit industries for common sense to prevail with the Health Star Ratings to ensure consumers have simple, clear information around the health of the products they buy.

Government Ministers will meet at the Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation this week to vote on whether they agree to changes to the Health Star Rating (HSR) system that would see fresh juices given a lower HSR than diet soft drinks.

Under the proposed change, fresh 100 per cent Australian apple juice would be labelled with 2 stars, while 100 per cent Australian orange juice would receive 2½ Stars and Diet Cola would be given 3½ Stars.

AUSVEG CEO James Whiteside said that the broader health benefits of natural fruit and vegetable juices must be taken into account with decisions around HSRs, especially for natural products such as fruit and vegetable juices.

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