How to access the Star Choice™ product register
The products in the register have been arranged in major categories according to the nutrient criteria applied to assess them, e.g. all breads, cereals, rice, pasta and noodle products are grouped together. This should make it easier and quicker to find products.
The major categories for registration are as follows:
- Breads, cereals, rice, pasta and noodles (including fruit breads, flat breads and crisp breads)
- Vegetables and vegetable products
- Fruit and fruit products (including juice, canned fruit)
- Dairy products and dairy alternatives (including milk, yoghurt, cheese and/or alternatives)
- Meat and meat alternatives (including meat, fish, poultry, eggs, nuts, legumes – both fresh and processed lines)
- Mixed foods (hot and cold prepared dishes)
- Miscellaneous foods (snack foods)
- Beverages (including non dairy and/or soy)
- Fats, oils, dressings and dips
Each of these categories has a number of sub-categories. Not all sub-categories currently have products listed. This does not mean that there are not products available in the market place that would fit the nutrient criteria but simply that none have been registered.
If you wish to know whether a particular product that is not registered meets the registration criteria, please call the Association.
You can also search the register by company name, e.g. Jackson’s Foods. All foods registered under this company, regardless of category will be shown.
Getting the balance right when menu planning
Star Choice™ Registered Products assist canteens to offer healthier versions of convenience pre-prepared meals, snacks and beverages and are particularly useful in schools where extensive food preparation is not permitted under current Food Hygiene Regulations. However, some items are not recommended as ‘every day’ choices and should be limited in their availability to students.
The following table sets out the Department of Education’s Healthy Food and Drink policy and traffic light system.
- A minimum of 60% of the total menu choices should come from the GREEN category
- No more than 40% of the total choices available should come from the AMBER category
- AMBER savoury commercial products are further restricted to no more than twice per week
- RED items are not permitted for sale in Government and Catholic school canteens at all and are therefore not able to be registered. There is ample opportunity to consume these outside school hours at the discretion of parents and carers.
