Australia’s health star rating system exploited by companies making ultra-processed foods, experts say

Ultra-processed foods are those that contain no or few whole food ingredients and have undergone multiple processing steps where sweeteners, colourings, flavourings and emulsifiers are added. Photograph: monticelllo/Getty Images/iStockphoto

The food industry in Australia is allowed to use labelling and marketing tactics to distract from the harmful ingredients in ultra-processed foods due to its outsize political power, health experts say.

As state, territory and federal health and food ministers meet on Thursday, experts are concerned the current voluntary food labelling regimes are failing to meet international standards for warning consumers against industrial techniques used in food processing.