澳大利亚食品行业内部人士通过调查揭露，超加工食品正通过误导性营销和标签手段欺骗消费者，使其看起来比实际更为健康[1]。调查发现，一些儿童食品的含糖量远高于其标签宣传，例如Rafferty's Garden Mixed Berry Yogurt Buttons声称"99%果蔬酸奶"，但实际上超过60%的成分是添加糖[1]；Kiddylicious Raspberry Crispy Tiddlers的含糖量更是接近66%[1]。
澳大利亚的食品标签监管体系存在严重缺陷[1]。该国食品标签法已15年未进行独立审查，仅有3项中的40项公共卫生建议被完全实施[1]。澳新食品标准局（FSANZ）董事会成员马克·劳伦斯表示，"四分之三的超加工食品显示2.5星或以上"[1]。数据显示，在澳大利亚食品数据库中超过21,000种产品中，约一半被认为是"自由裁量"食品，如果强制实施健康星级评级，超过四分之一的此类食品仍将获得3星以上评分[1]。其中76%的婴幼儿自由裁量食品将获得3星以上评分[1]。相比之下，美国自2021年起已要求标签上单独披露添加糖含量[1]。
Food industry insiders in Australia have revealed that ultra-processed products employ deceptive marketing and labeling practices to make themselves appear more nutritious than they actually are.[1] An investigation found that Australia's food labeling regulations have not undergone an independent review in 15 years, with only 3 of 40 public health recommendations being fully implemented.[1] This regulatory gap has resulted in approximately one-quarter of discretionary foods receiving health star ratings of 3 or above despite their nutritional quality, misleading consumers about their healthfulness.[1]
Specific examples highlight the extent of the deception. Rafferty's Garden Mixed Berry Yogurt Buttons claims to be "99% fruit and vegetable yogurt," yet more than 60% of the product consists of added sugar.[1] Similarly, Kiddylicious Raspberry Crispy Tiddlers contains nearly 66% sugar.[1] Among over 21,000 products in the Australian food database, approximately half are classified as discretionary foods, with 76% of baby and toddler discretionary foods receiving health star ratings of 3 or above under mandatory labeling.[1] Mark Lawrence, a current board member of Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), stated that "three-quarters of ultra-processed foods display 2.5 stars or above," underscoring how the current system fails to distinguish genuinely healthy options.[1] In comparison, the United States has required separate disclosure of added sugars on labels since 2021, a stricter standard not yet adopted in Australia.[1]