Olive industry calls for Health Star Rating exemption
By Laura Thomas
Australian olive industry leaders are calling for edible oils to be exempt from the Federal Government’s Heath Star Rating system until a more equitable, science-based alternative can be developed.
Public feedback is now open on plans to mandate the controversial nutritional rating system, which Food Standards Australia and New Zealand says “could improve consistency, comparability and accessibility of nutrition information”.
But as we reported back in February, the move represents a significant blow to the Australian olive industry.
Currently voluntary in Australia, the rating system is described as a “quick and easy way to compare the nutritional profile of similar packaged foods” – more stars means a better rating.
Unfortunately for the olive industry, the rudimentary system focuses only on saturated fat content and completely discounts the health-delivering polyphenols and science-backed nutritional benefits of extra virgin olive oil – a key component of the famously beneficial Mediterranean diet.
Adding further insult, EVOO is also ranked as a less-healthy option than other highly refined edible oils like sunflower and canola.
So how has one of the most extensively-researched whole foods in nutrition science been so severely shortchanged by a system designed to help Australian consumers make healthier choices?
Its failure lies in the simplicity of the underlying ratings metric, according to Australian Olive Association Chief Executive Officer Michael Southan.
“In the process of trying to create a standardised, quick and easy, front-of-pack rating system to assist consumers make healthy choices, extra virgin olive oil is being done a monumental disservice,” he said.
“The ratings calculator focuses too narrowly on saturated fat content alone and does not take into account other much broader health benefits.
“In its current form, the system is far too simple to identify the range of phenolic compounds contained in extra virgin olive oil and the health benefits they deliver to many parts of the human body.”
Mr Southan called on the Federal Government to exempt edible oils from any future Health Star Rating mandate, until a more appropriate and equitable rating mechanism could be developed.
“If this system becomes compulsory consumers will be grossly misled, unwittingly steered away from a completely natural, unrefined and nutrient-dense oil, towards another that is highly processed and refined – all due to ill-informed government guidance,” he said.
“Australian consumers deserve to have trust in a system that properly represents the nutritional profile of foods on the supermarket shelf, so they can be absolutely sure they are making the right choices.
“Mandating the Health Star Rating system in its current form would be devastating to the Australia olive industry, which prides itself on producing a scientifically-proven superfood that is of the highest quality, nutrient rich and completely natural.”
Have your say!
Consultation will play a central role in what comes next, including steps to mandate the Health Star Rating system.
So it’s important the voices of Australian olive producers and stakeholders are heard.
Submissions close 21 June 2026.
More information
Find out more about what mandatory Health Star Ratings would mean for Australian olives, in AOA CEO Michael Southan’s interview with The Country Telegraph last month.