As you read this, health officials are busy finalising the government’s review of the health star rating system on packaged foods.

One of the issues the review is looking at is whether the system, which has been voluntary in Australia and New Zealand since its launch in 2014, should become mandatory.

This is something public health and consumer groups have called for, but the food industry has opposed.

Our new research, which looked at health star ratings of 20,000 packaged foods, shows why mandatory health stars on all packaged food is needed.