SYDNEY – Australia’s food and health ministers have approved a voluntary five-star rating system for food nutrition, Inside Retail reports.

The plan gives packaged food manufacturers two years to voluntarily implement star ratings on the front of their products or risk legislative measures.

The “health star rating” would offer consumers at-a-glance information about the foods they are buying and reflect the overall nutritional value of the food. It will also include nutrient information for energy, fat, sodium, sugars, and either calcium or fiber.

"The preferred implementation option in Australia is a voluntary system," the ministers said in a joint release. "If, following evaluation after two years, a voluntary implementation is found to be unsuccessful, a mandatory approach will be required."

The Public Health Association of Australia said the star rating system would encourage healthy eating, and the Australian Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance said it could help consumers manage fat, sugar and salt intake.