Cheese Health Star Rating (CHSR)

Disclaimer

The Cheese Health Star Rating (CHSR) was devised by the team at Cheese Scientist to quantify the comparative analyses of cheese nutrition facts. It does not replace professional health advice and should not solely dictate your dietary choices. Because dietary needs are largely personal, you should consult your healthcare provider before making significant changes to your diet.

Cheese Health Star Rating algorithm

Allocating a Health Star Rating (HSR) specifically for cheese and cheese products requires a tailored algorithm that considers the unique nutritional profile of cheese. Below is the algorithm we use at Cheese Scientist.

Step 1: Categorise the cheese product

• Category 1: Hard and semi-hard cheeses (e.g., Cheddar, Parmesan)
• Category 2: Soft cheeses (e.g., Brie, Camembert)
• Category 3: Processed cheese products (e.g., cheese slices, spreads)
• Category 4: Low-fat or reduced-salt cheeses

Different categories may have specific benchmarks based on their inherent nutritional characteristics.

Step 2: Assign baseline points

For every 100g of the product, calculate baseline points based on these criteria:

Step 3: Assign modifying points

Adjust the score based on positive nutritional components:

Step 4: Calculate net score

• Net score = (Baseline points) – (Modifying points)

Step 5: Assign star rating table

Scale the net score to the star rating system:

• Use a range of net scores (e.g., 0 to 25) mapped to 0–5 stars, with half-star increments.

Step 6: Adjust for cheese category

Some categories may inherently score lower due to their nutrient density. Apply category-specific adjustments:

• Hard cheeses: Add +0.5 stars if the net score is positive.
• Soft cheeses: No adjustment.
• Processed cheeses: Subtract -0.5 stars to account for additives.
• Low-fat/reduced-salt cheeses: Add +0.5 stars if sodium is <300mg and saturated fat <3g per 100g.

Case Study 1: Cheez Whiz

Let’s calculate the Health Star Rating (HSR) for Cheez Whiz based on its nutritional data.

Step 1: Baseline points (per 100g)

These points are based on the energy, saturated fat, sodium, and total sugar content:

Baseline points = 5 + 7 + 15 + 5 = 32

Step 2: Modifying points

These points reward beneficial components like protein, fibre, and calcium:

Modifying points = -6 + 0 – 2 = -8

Step 3: Net score

Net score = Baseline points – Modifying points = 32 – 8 = 24

Using the HSR scoring table:

• A net score of 24 corresponds to 0.5 stars (least healthy rating).

Step 4: Adjustment for processed cheese product

For processed cheese products, we apply an adjustment of -0.5 stars to account for the inclusion of additives and the highly processed nature of the product. This adjustment reflects that processed cheese products are generally less healthy compared to natural cheese.

Adjusted CHSR for Cheez Whiz

• Base score: 0.5 stars
• Processed cheese adjustment: -0.5 stars

Final Health Star Rating: 0 stars

Cheez Whiz receives a 0-star rating, primarily due to its high sodium, saturated fat, and sugar content, despite its moderate protein and calcium levels.

Case Study 2: Ricotta

Let’s calculate the Cheese Health Star Rating (CHSR) for Ricotta using its nutritional data.

Step 1: Baseline points (per 100g)

These are determined based on energy, saturated fat, sodium, and total sugar content:

Baseline points = 3 + 5 + 2 + 3 = 13

Step 2: Modifying points

These reward beneficial components like protein, fibre, and calcium:

Modifying points = -5 + 0 + 0 = -5

Step 3: Final score

Net score = Baseline points – Modifying points = 13 – 5 = 8

Using the HSR scoring table:

• A net score of 8 corresponds to 4.0 stars.

CHSR for Ricotta

Ricotta earns a 4.0-star rating, reflecting its lower sodium compared to other cheeses and its decent protein content.