Labor is pushing to make it easier for Victorians to make healthier choices at the supermarket.
Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas is announcing a push to mandate the display of the Health Star Rating system for all packaged food products.
Led by the Allan and Malinauskas Governments, it will be a focus at today's National Food Minister's Meeting.
The system rates the overall nutritional value of packaged food products from half a star to five stars.
It is an important tool that gives shoppers a simple scale to support healthier choices.
But the current system has been voluntary since it was introduced in 2014, and it is failing Australians.
Currently just 39 per cent of relevant food products display the rating - well below the 70 per cent target.
It means families don't have access to all the information they need to make quick, informed choices at the supermarket.
The change would also align with the Commonwealth Government's National Obesity Strategy 2022-2032.
Currently, Australia has one of the highest rates of obesity in the world - with poor diet a leading risk factor for chronic diseases like heart disease and Type 2 diabetes.
This simple change will mean better outcomes for Victorians and all Australians.
As stated by Victorian Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas
"As it stands, families do not have access to enough information to make the right food choices."
"This is about ensuring that we are providing parents and families with simple information to make health choices."
"Initiatives like this complement our work to improve preventative health care in Victoria - ensuring public health resources are focused where they matter most."
