RIVERLAND citrus growers may feel the consequences of proposed Health Star Rating changes that would see fruit juices labelled the same as some soft drinks.
Changes to the Health Star Rating system – being voted on by the Australian and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation – are set to downgrade the health rating of fruit juices from five stars to 2.5.
Member for Chaffey Tim Whetstone said the labelling changes would likely have negative effects on Riverland citrus producers.
“I am concerned about the review and would like to see the Federal Government reject changes to the Health Star Rating,” Mr Whetstone said.
“The review has been ongoing for nearly five years and it has now been put on hold while SA Health makes a submission.
“As a citrus grower myself for 30 years and living in the Riverland, I am particularly concerned about the impact this review could have on the region and our producers.
“We know that natural sugars and artificial sweeteners are a different kettle of fish when we introduce sugars into food and beverages.”
Citrus Australia chief executive officer Nathan Hancock said the rating changes – putting fruit juice in line with diet soft drinks – would be misleading for consumers.
“Any decision that enables fresh orange juice to be rated the equivalent of diet cola is not only a misrepresentation of the health benefits of fresh 100 per cent juice with no added sugar, but will have a detrimental effect on fresh juice consumption,” Mr Hancock said.
“We fear any decline in sales under this false premise would also hasten the demise of the Australian orange juice industry, which has already seen a 30 per cent decrease in the production base over the last 18 years.
“A rating system that assigns the same rating to both 100 per cent Australian grown fresh orange juice and diet soft drink is an embarrassment to the government, which should be desperately attempting to increase the intake of fresh fruit and vegetables.”