Australian farmers fuming over 'mad' proposal

Diet coke is better for you than locally made orange juice — at least that's according to proposed changes to Australia's Health Star Ratings.

The debate comes after the Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation recommended juice be reclassified according to sugar content.

If the bid is successful, fresh juice could plummet from its five star rating to three-to-five stars.

It's expected state and federal food ministers will make a decision by next week.

READ MORE: Farmers forced to abandon bumper crop due to worker shortage

Australian farmers are calling on ministers to stop the changes, with National Farmers' Federation CEO Tony Mahar describing it as "madness".

"Just crazy to think this health star rating, which is meant to be guiding consumers on the healthiness of products, suggests that diet soft drinks are more healthier than unsweetened, fresh Australian juice," he told Today.

"It's just madness'"

Mr Mahar says the proposal has caused concern for growers.

"By penalising fresh, Australian un-sweetened juice, it is impacting farmers. It is death by a thousand cuts.

"It will penalise farmers, penalise truckies, share workers, pickers — this is the last thing Australian farmers need."

"We get people want healthy lifestyles but, at the moment, 94 per cent of Australian consumers that don't eat enough fresh fruit and vegetables," he claimed.

"If they have a glass of un-sweetened Australian orange juice, they can help reverse the trend but this health star rating is going in the other direction."

Join the Today show family and give yourself the chance to win great prizes by signing up to our weekly newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox every Wednesday with a special message from Karl and Ally. You can sign up for free here.