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Nutri-Score - could it help us to choose the healthy option?
Germany rolls out 'Nutri-Score' front of pack nutrition labelling - who will be next?
23.11.2020
As another EU member state officially rolls out the ‘Nutri-Score’ front of pack nutrition labelling (FOPNL) scheme, would the UK benefit from adopting the scheme?
What is Nutri-Score?
Nutri-score is a front of pack nutritional label which converts the nutritional value of food and beverages into a simple score. The formula takes into account both the nutrients to limit (energy value, sugar, saturated fats and salt) and the values to favour (fibre, protein, fruit, vegetables and nuts). The scheme has a ranking system from -15 for the healthiest product to +50 for the least healthy, each product has a 5 letter code with its own colour.
Where is it used?
Nutri-Score was first developed in France in 2017, since then the Netherlands, Switzerland, Spain, Belgium and now Germany have adopted the scheme as their voluntary labelling scheme of choice. The scheme has also been trialled by some major retailers and food producers but is currently voluntary. The EC commission plans to harmonise mandatory front of pack nutrition labelling as part of its Farm-to-Fork food strategy, but no decisions have been made just yet.
Why use it?
The main objective of the scheme is to enable consumers to easily understand and compare information between products, helping them make the best choice for their health. You can see at a glance which products should be avoided and which ones are recommended.
There are however concerns from countries where traditional delicacies such as cured meats or olive oil are core products, as the Nutri-Score system would potentially penalise these products. Many of these products are known for their health benefits and are at the heart of diets such as the Mediterranean diet, so focusing on a limited number of 'bad' nutrients may put consumers off.
As most of us know healthy eating is all about balance along with lifestyle factors. Research carried out on consumers in the EU* suggested that Nutri-score has the potential to boost sales of healthy products, without affecting the sales of unhealthy products. It may however help consumers to eat smaller portions of those less healthy products.**
Should the UK use Nutri-Score?
At a time where the UK has the largest rates of obesity in Europe, and 62% of the UK is overweight perhaps now is the time to simplify our food nutritional labelling to help consumers shift to healthier diets. In July 2020, the government published a consultation on the UK's FOPNL to gain the public's views, this has now closed so we await the results...Watch this space!
References/further reading
*The Impact of the Nutri-Score Nutrition Label on perceived Healthiness and Purchase Intentions’ 2020 Appetite. Joyce De Temmerman et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2020.104995
** Impact of Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labels on Portion Size Selection: An Experimental Study in a French cohort' Nutrients 2018. Manon Egnell et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10091268
How does Nutri-Score impact shoppers purchase intentions - www.foodnavigator.com/article/2020/10/29
