Aussie consumer group attacks Kellogg's for not joining health label campaign

Major international food manufacturers have come under fire from Australia's leading consumer group on Wednesday for not joining the federal government 's voluntary health star rating (HSR) labelling program.

The federal government began the new program last year in which food products are given ratings between a half a star and five stars depending upon energy, fat, sugar and salt levels.

The new health star rating scheme converts complex nutrition panels to simple, at-a-glance labels and the more stars consumers see, the healthier the food.

Consumer group Choice has criticized U.S. multinational Kellogg 's as well as other big companies for not taking part in the HSR program.

"The scheme's been live since July. But Kellogg's and seven major food companies are refusing to place health stars on their products," a Choice spokesman told Xinhua on Wednesday.

Choice said the scheme is voluntary, so food companies can decide if they want to use it or not and some big names have already signed on.

"In fact, you can already see stars on some Coles and Woolworths products, Sanitarium, SPC and on Monster Health Food Co 's muesli," Choice said.

"But, the system only works if everyone's involved. That's why we're calling for health star ratings across the board."

A spokesman from Kellogg's told Xinhua that the company was reviewing the HSR labeling program but was not in a position to comment at the moment.

Australia has one of the highest rates of obesity in the world with 63 percent of adults and one in four children being overweight or obese. Endi