REVEALED: IGA is named Australia's unhealthiest supermarket chain – as Woolworths' home brands are hailed for their nutrition
- IGA fell from second place to fourth in total supermarket healthy rankings
- Research found Aldi had the most 'ultra-processed' products on their shelves
- Woolworths was found to be the healthiest supermarket with highest star rating
Supermarket IGA stocks the unhealthiest 'home brand' food of any major chain, a report has found.
Research carried out by the Global Health and Global Obesity Centre at Deakin University in Victoria also found Aldi offered the second most 'ultra-processed' own-brand products on their shelves.
The products are high in sugar, oil, salt and preservatives, according to the report titled FoodSwitch: The State of the Food Supply.
Meanwhile, Woolworths was found to be the country's healthiest supermarket chain and had the highest average health star rating for its own-brand products.
Coles nabbed the second spot behind its main competitor.
Budget supermarket IGA stocks the most unhealthy 'own brand' foods of any major chain, a report has found (stock image)
The study analysed processed items from 25 different food manufacturers including Heinz, Kellogg's and Nestle.
The healthiest brands were found to be A2 Dairy, Sanitarium and Noodie Foods, all boasting an average health star rating higher than four.
Red Bull, Frucor, Mondelez - whose brands include Cadbury and Oreo - and Bundaberg Brewed Drinks were named as the unhealthiest products with an average of 1.3 stars.
Bega Cheese dropped nine places in the product ratings compared to 2017, falling from ninth to 24th.
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Eight brands improved their average health star rating from 2017, while 16 fell.
The authors of the report called for health star ratings to be made compulsory and said supermarkets could do more to prevent obesity.
Woolworths was found to be the healthiest supermarket and had the highest average health star rating for its own-brand products (stock image)
A spokesman for Metcash, the company that supports independently-owned IGA stores, said the research overlooked the fact the chain has a relatively small own-brand range of products, calling it 'unfair'.
The spokesman said the health star rating system was 'significantly flawed' and that the chain preferred to use the Recommended Daily Intake system as it provided 'more detailed and useful information'.
A Mondelez spokeswoman said the results of the report were unsurprising as the company specialised in confectionery.
Australian Beverage Council boss Geoff Parker said its members, including Bundaberg, Frucor and Red Bull, would cut the amount of sugar in their drinks by 20 per cent in the next six years.
Coles nabbed the second spot behind its main competitor (stock image)
More than 32,000 packaged foods across Australia were analysed as part of the study.
Professor Bruce Neal said the government needed to do more to improve the quality of food offered in Australian supermarkets.
'Getting healthier foods on the shelves will be key to curbing the epidemic of obesity and diet-related ill health blighting Australia. Every day of inaction is putting the health of millions of Australians at risk,' he said.
