Consumers and Health

Nutri-score and colorectal cancer prevention

April 3, 2025

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Did you know that making informed food selections, guided by tools like the Nutri-Score front-of-pack nutrition label, can be a positive step towards better health and potentially lower your risk of colorectal cancer? Globally, the food we eat has a profound impact on our well-being, and prioritizing a healthy diet is key. A recent study (Franchi et al., 2025) explored the connection between the nutritional quality of our overall diet, as indicated by the Nutri-Score, and the likelihood of developing colorectal cancer.

Researchers compared the dietary habits of individuals with colorectal cancer to those without, and the findings suggest that diets rich in foods with more favorable Nutri-Scores – typically those higher in beneficial nutrients – may be associated with a reduced risk of this disease. This highlights the potential of using the Nutri-Score to easily identify more nutritious options and make dietary choices that could contribute to preventing colorectal cancer and supporting a healthier lifestyle.

Table of Contents

1. Objectives

The study by Franchi et al. (2025) investigated the association between the updated Nutrient Profiling System (uNS-NPS), underlying Nutri-Score, and colorectal cancer risk. With the objectives of:

-investigating the association between dietary choices and cancer risk;

-evaluating the effectiveness of front-of-pack nutrition labels, such as Nutri-Score, in improving the nutritional quality of food purchases.

2. Methods

The researchers analyzed data from two hospital-based studies, in Italy, where participants’ dietary habits were assessed using a validated food questionnaire. Researchers then calculated an individual dietary index (uNS-NPS-DI) based on the Nutri-Score system, averaging the scores of all foods and drinks consumed by each subject.

To examine the link between diet and colorectal cancer risk, the study used statistical methods to compare groups with different dietary index levels. It calculated the odds (likelihood) of developing colorectal cancer across different diet quality categories. The analysis also considered how a small increase in the dietary index (about 1.58 points) affected cancer risk.

Additionally, the research considered large-scale studies, such as long-term population tracking (cohort studies) and reviews of multiple studies (systematic reviews and meta-analyses), to ensure reliable conclusions.

3. Major outcomes

The study found that people with the lowest diet quality, as indicated by the highest individual dietary index scores, had a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer compared to those with the best diet quality. Specifically:

– individuals in the highest diet risk category had a 17% higher risk of colorectal cancer. When looking at specific cancer types, the increased risk was 11% for colon cancer and 28% for rectal cancer;

– age also appeared to play a role: while no clear diet-cancer link was found in individuals under 60, a modest association emerged in older adults, with a 13% increase in risk for each 1.58-point increase in the dietary index.

4. Confirmation of earlier findings

This study adds important body of evidence on the hot topic of FSA-NPS DI values (corresponding to food choices of lower nutritional quality, based on the Nutri-Score nutrient profiling system) were at higher risk of developing overall cancer (Deschasaux et al., 2018).

Additionally, large-scale public health analysis confirmed that diets high in nutrient-poor foods (as reflected in the FSAm-NPS dietary index) were linked to higher rates of cardiovascular disease (Deschasaux et al., 2024).

5. Conclusions

The study concluded that:

– a diet with low nutritional quality, as measured by the uNS-NPS, was associated with increased colorectal cancer risk, although this association was relatively modest in magnitude;

– dietary choices play a significant role in cancer prevention;

– front-of-pack nutrition labels such as Nutri-Score can be an effective tool in promoting healthier food choices.

6. Practical applications

This study has several practical applications, including:

– the importance of considering the overall dietary pattern, to be assessed through the uNS-NPS-DI, to assess the nutritional quality of individual diets;

– the need to promote Nutri-Score adoption on all food labels and fast-food menus to enhance consumer awareness of nutritional quality (Lüthi et al., 2024);

– the development of public health strategies to promote healthier dietary choices and reduce the risks of cancer and other Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).

Dario Dongo

Bibliography

– Franchi, C., Ardoino, I., Orsini, F., Negri, E., Maso, L. D., Rossi, S., … Vecchia, C. L.. (2025). Updated nutrient profiling system underlying nutri-score (Uns-Nps) and colorectal cancer risk. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-025-01590-5

– Deschasaux M, Huybrechts I, Murphy N, Julia C, Hercberg S, Srour B, et al. (2018). Nutritional quality of food as represented by the FSAm-NPS nutrient profiling system underlying the Nutri-Score label and cancer risk in Europe: Results from the EPIC prospective cohort study. PLoS Med. 15:e1002651. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.10026

– Deschasaux-Tanguy, M., et al. (2024). Nutritional quality of diet characterized by the Nutri-Score profiling system and cardiovascular disease risk: a prospective study in 7 European countries. The Lancet Regional Health – Europe, 46, 101006. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanepe.2024.101006

– Lüthi, E., Badran-Amstutz, W., & Cornuz, J. (2024). Nutri-Score: que dire aux patientes et patients sur ce thème scientifique d’actualité? Médecine de première ligne. DOI: 10.53738/REVMED.2024.20.894.2063.