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Researcher Professor Cliona Ni Mhurchu, from the University of Auckland's Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences say health experts want packaged food and drink to carry compulsory health star ratings, stop sign warnings, or both, to help families make healthier food choices and curb the climbing obesity rate. It follows research comparing the voluntary Health Star Rating system used here and in Australia, with the mandatory health warning system used in Chile. For the comparison, the Auckland researchers classified almost 14,000 packaged food and beverages according to both systems. They found that two thirds of New Zealand products would have at least one health warning under the Chilean system.
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