title: A nutrient profiling assessment of packaged foods using two star-based front-of-pack labels.
abstract: To compare two front-of-pack nutrition labelling systems for the assessment of packaged foods and drinks with Australian Dietary Guidelines.
  
  
  
  A cross-sectional nutrient profiling assessment. Food and drink products (n 20 225) were categorised into scoring levels using criteria for the Institute of Medicine (IOM) three-star system and the five-star Australian Health Star Rating (HSR). The effectiveness of these systems to categorise foods in accordance with Australian Dietary Guidelines was explored.
  
  
  
  The study was conducted in Australia, using a comprehensive food database.
  
  
  
  Packaged food and drink products (n 20 225) available in Australia.
  
  
  
  Using the IOM three-star system, the majority (55 %) of products scored the minimum 0 points and 25·5 % scored the maximum 3 points. Using HSR criteria, the greatest proportion of products (15·2 %) scored three-and-a-half stars from a possible five and 12·5 % received the lowest rating of a half-star. Very few products (4·1 %) scored five stars. Products considered core foods and drinks in Australian Dietary Guidelines received higher scores than discretionary foods in all food categories for both labelling systems (all P<0·05; Mann-Whitney U test), with the exception of fish products using IOM three-star criteria (P=0·603). The largest discrepancies in median score between the two systems were for the food categories edible oils, convenience foods and dairy.
  
  
  
  Both the IOM three-star and Australian HSR front-of-pack labelling systems rated packaged foods and drinks broadly in line with Australian Dietary Guidelines by assigning core foods higher ratings and discretionary foods lower ratings.
authors.affiliation: 1School of Health & Society,University of Wollongong,Wollongong,New South Wales,Australia.
authors.forename: Amy M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Carrad
authors.affiliation: 2School of Molecular Bioscience, Faculty of Science,University of Sydney,Level 4 East,The Hub,D17 Charles Perkins Centre,The University of Sydney,NSW 2006,Australia.
authors.forename: Jimmy Chun Yu
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Louie
authors.affiliation: 1School of Health & Society,University of Wollongong,Wollongong,New South Wales,Australia.
authors.forename: Heather R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Yeatman
authors.affiliation: 3The George Institute for Global Health,Royal Prince Alfred Hospital,Camperdown,New South Wales,Australia.
authors.forename: Elizabeth K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Dunford
authors.affiliation: 3The George Institute for Global Health,Royal Prince Alfred Hospital,Camperdown,New South Wales,Australia.
authors.forename: Bruce C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Neal
authors.affiliation: 4Faculty of Health Sciences,University of Sydney,Lidcombe,New South Wales,Australia.
authors.forename: Victoria M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Flood
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005515:Food Labeling; D063427:Food Quality; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009753:Nutritive Value
keywords: Dietary guidelines; Front-of-pack label; Health star rating; Institute of Medicine; Nutrient profiling