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 or cheese product
- Category 1: Natural cheeses (e.g., Brie, Cheddar, Parmesan)
- Category 2: Processed cheese products (e.g., cheese slices, spreads)
- Category 3: 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:
| Nutrient | Points per unit |
|---|---|
| Energy (kJ) | +1 point per 250 kJ above 500 kJ |
| Saturated fat | +1 point per 2 g above 3 g |
| Sodium (mg) | +1 point per 100 mg above 300 mg |
| Total sugar (g) | +1 point per 1 g above 2 g |
Step 3: Assign modifying points
Adjust the score based on positive nutritional components:
| Nutrient/Component | Points per unit |
|---|---|
| Protein (g) | -1 point per 2 g above 6 g |
| Calcium (% recommended intake) | -1 point per 10% above 20% |
| FVNL* (if applicable) | -1 point per 10% FVNL above 40% |
*FVNL stands for Fruits, Vegetables, Nuts, and Legumes. It is a key component used in the Cheese Health Star Rating (CHSR) system to assess the healthiness of cheeses. In this context, FVNL might apply to flavoured or blended products (e.g., cheese spreads with vegetables or nuts).
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.
| Net Score (0 to 25) | Star Rating (0.5 to 5) |
|---|---|
| 0-2 | 5.0 stars |
| 3-5 | 4.5 stars |
| 6-8 | 4.0 stars |
| 9-11 | 3.5 stars |
| 12-14 | 3.0 stars |
| 15-17 | 2.5 stars |
| 18-20 | 2.0 stars |
| 21-22 | 1.5 stars |
| 23-24 | 1.0 stars |
| 25 | 0.5 stars |
Step 6: Adjust for cheese category
Some categories may inherently score lower due to their nutrient density. Apply category-specific adjustments:
- Natural 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 <3 g per 100 g.
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 100 g)
These points are based on the energy, saturated fat, sodium, and total sugar content:
| Component | Amount | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Energy (kJ) | 1155 kJ | +3 points (1 point per 250 kJ above 500) |
| Saturated fat | 13 g | +5 points (1 point per 2 g above 3 g) |
| Sodium (mg) | 1638 mg | +14 points (1 point per 100 mg above 300) |
| Total sugar (g) | 6.7 g | +5 points (1 point per 1 g above 2 g) |
Baseline points = 3 + 5 + 14 + 5 = 27
Step 2: Modifying points
These points reward beneficial components like protein, fibre, and calcium:
| Component | Amount | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Protein (g) | 12 g | -3 points (1 point per 2 g above 6 g) |
| Fibre (g) | 0.3 g | 0 points (below 1 g threshold) |
| Calcium (mg) | 359 mg (28% RDI) | -1 points (1 point per 10% above 20%) |
Modifying points = -3 + 0 – 1 = -4
Step 3: Net score
Net score = Baseline points – Modifying points = 27 – 4 = 23
Using the HSR scoring table:
- A net score of 23 corresponds to 1 star.
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: 1 star
- Processed cheese adjustment: -0.5 stars
Final Health Star Rating: 0.5 star
Cheez Whiz receives a 0.5-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 100 g)
These are determined based on energy, saturated fat, sodium, and total sugar content:
| Component | Amount | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Energy (kJ) | 741 kJ | +1 points (1 point per 250 kJ above 500) |
| Saturated fat | 8.1 g | +3 points (1 point per 2 g above 3 g) |
| Sodium (mg) | 242 mg | +0 points (1 point per 100 mg above 300) |
| Total sugar (g) | 3.2 g | +2 points (1 point per 1 g above 2 g) |
Baseline points = 1 + 3 + 0 + 2 = 6
Step 2: Modifying points
These reward beneficial components like protein, fibre, and calcium:
| Component | Amount | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Protein (g) | 11 g | -3 points (1 point per 2 g above 6 g) |
| Fibre (g) | 0 g | 0 points (below 1 g threshold) |
| Calcium (mg) | 161 mg (12% RDI) | 0 points (below 20% threshold) |
Modifying points = -3 + 0 + 0 = -3
Step 3: Net score
Net score = Baseline points – Modifying points = 6 – 3 = 3
Using the HSR scoring table:
- A net score of 3 corresponds to 4.5 stars.
Step 4: Adjust for low sodium
Since Ricotta contains less than 300 mg of sodium per 100 g, an additional +0.5 points are awarded.
- Base score: 4.5 stars
- Low sodium content: +0.5 stars
Final Health Star Rating: 5 stars
CHSR for Ricotta
Ricotta earns a 5-star rating, reflecting its lower sodium compared to other cheeses and its decent protein content.