Australia’s Health Star Rating system, designed to help shoppers make healthier food choices, may be falling short of its intended purpose. According to a recent article in The Sydney Morning Herald, the system has fundamental flaws that could be misleading consumers.The rating system, which assigns stars based on nutritional content, often gives high ratings to ultra-processed foods while penalizing whole foods like extra virgin olive oil. This discrepancy arises from the system’s focus on individual nutrients rather than overall food quality.Moreover, the voluntary nature of the system allows food manufacturers to selectively apply ratings, potentially skewing consumer perceptions. With less than 40% of supermarket products currently displaying a Health Star Rating, consumers are left with incomplete information when comparing products.As public health experts call for reforms, the debate continues on how to improve this well-intentioned but flawed system.