Potential ways to optimise product Health Star Rating

The Health Star Rating (HSR) is a voluntary standardised way for a food company to communicate the general nutritional value of its product to allow comparison within product categories. The system was introduced in 2014 and reviewed submissions in 2016 by aggrieved suppliers and industry groups claiming the system discriminated against particular products whilst favouring other products in an unintended way. Of a total of 17 submissions, the HSR Advisory Committee determined only one to reveal a true anomaly. This article looks at the 14 most relevant submissions that were rejected by the HSR Advisory Committee. It considers the reasoning of the HSR Advisory Committee and explores the potential scope to use the same arguments to demonstrate ways for food companies to maximise their HSR rating.