Analysis of Food Policy Action: Use of HSR System to Promote Healthy Food Selection

Running head: FOOD POLICY 1
Analysis of Food Policy Action
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1. FOPNL as a Policy Action
The Front-of-Pack Nutritional Labeling (FOPNL) can be described in relation to the Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO)as a policy action where it is a clear nutritional message aimed at
the diet and health of the people. Through this policy, the general public can make the correct
decisions while selecting their nutritious foods. The labelled nutritional information, according to
the FOPNL, contains regulatory diets as per the national health policy. The main objective of the
FOPNL policy is to provide guidelines to the consumers about the composition of the sold
packed foods while elaborating on the ingredients in those foods. One of the guidelines is the use
of simple language that consumers will understand and make the correct choices of foods. The
primary health purpose of this policy action is to minimize the effects of non-communicable and
chronic illnesses that are related to nutrition [1].
Stakeholder’s Conflicts of Interest
There was a big debate that arose between the stakeholders which required interventions by the
government to change the structure and operations in the food system so that to sort the issue
nutritional health issues. The development and implementation of HSR involve several
government agencies and organizations, which lead to the rise of conflicting views among the
stakeholders. There were conflicting views between the stakeholders which later led to the
solutions on the public health nutritional programs. Some of the partners raised differently
[opinions concerning the HSR system in improving the effectiveness of their operations. Other
stakeholders suggested that the issue of nutrition is much substantive; hence, the HSR should be
nullified in regards to food sustainability from the environment and public health. Nevertheless,

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such norms have to be ignored to enable the strategies of organizing ideas to change the foods
system into a nutritive and beneficial to public health [2].
2. Use of HSR System to Promote Healthy Food Selection
The Health Star Rating (HSR) system was introduced in Australia in the year 2014. The use of
stars affirms this rating system, and it ranges from 0.5 to 5.0. Foods are natural nutrients
combined with other components that synergistically operate to give a healthful diet. In rating,
the number of stars determines the excellent quality of the product, and thus the more the stars,
the healthier the food product [3].
Nutrient profiling
Nutrient profiling is the scientific technique of assessing and grouping food products by basing
on their nutrition value so that to improve healthy food choices. Profiling of foods helps in
disease prevention and hence promoting public health. Nutrition profiling ranks food based on
their characteristics. This dietary profiling is useful for informing FOPNLE by assisting
customers in understanding the types of nutrients in the menus. Profiling helps in formulating
other nutrients related to health policies. Australia and New Zealand are among the countries in
the world which were applauded for their model and inclusive approach to regulate the
marketing of kid’s food products. HSR system was established mainly to assist in the healthier
selecting of packed food products. It uses the algorithms of dietary profiling where each food is
assigned between 0.5 to 5 stars with regards to their nutritional components. Some of the
nutrients that are common in the foodstuffs which are prioritized while ranking the packaged
foods include; sugar, dietary, fiber, fats, calcium, protein [4].

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The calculations of the nutrient composition in the foods using the HSR system involve the
following stages;
1. Determining the quantity of sodium, fats, sugar, and energy per 100grams
2. Giving the points where necessary for the FNVL content
3. Calculations by deductions and modifying the scores for the baseline points so that to get
the overall score.
4. Rating and assigning the HSR [5]
The Importance and Ineffectiveness of HSR System
The following subtopics explain the ineffectiveness and the importance of the HRS system in
rating and ranking of the foods.
Products displaying the HSR
31% of the available foods products eaten within Australia used the HSR rating, while 21% of
the foods eaten in New Zealand indicated an HSR system in 2017 and 2018. This market display
has decreased by 1% in New Zealand and increase by 3 percent in Australia. This rate shows that
HSR is effective, but more effort is required to maximize the uptake of the eligible foods
products [6].
Accuracy of the HSR Display
The HSR has shown the high efficiency of the HSR due to the high demand and compliance by
the consumers while applying the provided guidance for dietary. Around 90% of the food
companies in Australia have shown adherence to the HSR system. The harm associated with the