SUNRAYSIA citrus growers say a move to lower the health star rating of fresh orange juice from five stars to as low as two-and-a-half stars is “a kick in the guts” for the industry.
The Forum on Food Regulation confirmed changes to the Health Star Rating system late last week, which left Diet Coca-Cola with a higher rating than juice.
Stars hit fails consumers: Webster
Citrus Australia had pushed for an automatic four-star rating in recognition of juice’s nutritional value, but that gained support from only New South Wales and South Australia.
Growers say the decision was a blow to their industry and common sense.
Sunraysia Citrus Growers chairman Kevin Cock said the move was a “kick in the guts”.
“We’ve put a lot of effort into getting fresh orange juice on to the shelves, as opposed to a very cheap imported concentrate, and now this,” Mr Cock said.
“These people who are making these decisions have been locked up for too long.
“What are they thinking? They are there to encourage good diet and this is just beyond belief.”
Mr Cock said he hoped ordinary consumers would see through the move as simply change for change’s sake.
“I hope normal-thinking people will go, ‘What the hell?’
“We’ve got another quasi-committee that’s been set up and they have just suddenly run out of things to change — that’s how I see it.
“I think we’ve got the (Federal Agriculture) Minister (David Littleproud) on side, but we haven’t got the committee that is making these crazy rules.
“I’ve watched it since it was first mooted and now they have just not listened.”
Citrus Australia chief executive Nathan Hancock said the organisation was “gutted” for growers who produced world-class juice, only to be told Diet Coke was the better option.
“Governments have missed a chance to encourage consumption of fruit and vegetables in the form of juice, choosing to cave to the anti-sugar brigade against all logic,” Mr Hancock said.
“It is a sad day not only for juice growers who already do it tough, and who now have a question mark over the long-term viability of their industry as a result of the lost sales that will result from this decision, but for the entire agricultural industry who have been let down by their elected representatives,” he said.
Mr Hancock said many small and large-scale companies were planning to remove the HSR logos from their products as a result.
He said Citrus Australia would continue to work with Australian growers to promote the health benefits of fresh juice to consumers and reassure them that the contents of the bottle have not changed, despite the new rating.
Mr Littleproud described the move as “madness”.
“Fresh, pure, vitamin-rich Aussie OJ is better than soft drink every day of the week and our Health Star Rating system should reflect this,” Mr Littleproud said,
“It will cause consumer confusion and impact sales in an already difficult year for farmers.
“The disgraceful decision has undermined the integrity of the entire Health Star Rating system and will lead to juice manufacturers dropping the health label altogether, leaving consumers worse off.
“I’m all for ensuring good consumer health outcomes, but this lacks common sense.”
