France votes to mandate Nutri-Score, exempting terroir

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Dario Dongo
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Food Times_France Nutri-Score mandatory

On 7 November 2025, the National Assembly in Paris voted to introduce in France the mandatory display of the Nutri-Score front-of-pack nutritional labelling system on all pre-packed foods, with exemptions granted for certain products covered by specific certifications such as PDO, PGI, or organic. This decision, approved through amendments to the 2026 social security budget law, marks a historic milestone in the promotion of public health and nutritional transparency.

Nutri-Score is in fact one of the most effective front-of-pack nutritional labelling (FOPNL) systems for helping consumers make healthier food choices and understand the roles of different food categories within a balanced diet, in line with the Mediterranean diet pyramid. It also serves as a strong incentive for the reformulation and nutritional improvement of food products.

This article outlines the new rules under discussion, their implications for the French market, and the positions expressed by the various stakeholders.

France votes to mandate Nutri-Score: key provisions

The amendments adopted by the French National Assembly introduce a decisive change in the country’s nutrition labelling policy. From now on, all pre-packaged foods marketed in France will be required to display the Nutri-Score clearly on the front of the pack, ending the voluntary regime that had been in place since its introduction by Santé publique France in 2017.

At the same time, the law provides for a targeted exemption: foods bearing national or European quality or origin labels – such as AOP (Appellation d’Origine Protégée), IGP (Indication Géographique Protégée), label rouge, or organic – will not be obliged to carry the label. The exact list of products covered by this exemption will be defined by decree.

This reform is part of the 2026 social security budget law, and further decrees are expected to specify implementation timelines and compliance modalities. The draft law provides for a 5 % turnover tax on companies that do not display the Nutri‑Score, with the revenue from this tax designated for the national health insurance system.

Implications in the French market

The move to make Nutri-Score mandatory carries several significant implications for the French food market – primarily beneficial from both a public-health and an industry-innovation standpoint, as outlined below.

Consumer transparency and empowerment

By requiring Nutri-Score on packaging, consumers will gain a quick and clear assessment of the nutritional quality of foods. Peer-reviewed studies have consistently demonstrated that Nutri-Score enhances consumers’ ability to evaluate and rank food products based on their overall nutritional quality (Andreani et al., 2025; Samper Márquez, 2024; Egnell et al., 2020).

Systematic reviews further demonstrate that simplified front-of-pack nutrition labels (FOPNLs) enhance nutritional understanding across socio-economic groups, including the most vulnerable ones (Caso et al., 2025; Shrestha et al., 2023).

Consequently, this reform is expected to improve nutritional literacy and support healthy choices consistent with the Mediterranean diet pyramid, promoting fruit, vegetables, cereals, pulses and minimally processed foods while helping consumers moderate less balanced products.

Incentive for reformulation and product improvement

Mandatory Nutri-Score labelling will create market incentives for manufacturers to reformulate products (e.g., by reducing sugar, salt and saturated fat) to achieve better grades (Steenbergen et al., 2024; Bauner et al., 2024). Longitudinal and case-control studies show that higher Nutri-Score ratings are associated with lower risk of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases and cancers, and overall mortality (Franchi et al., 2025; Deschasaux-Tanguy et al., 2024; Bonaccio et al., 2022). Hence, the measure is likely to encourage healthier product portfolios, aligning corporate strategies with national public-health goals.

Competitive differentiation

The mandatory display of the Nutri-Score on all food products is expected to have a significant impact on the market. Manufacturers achieving higher Nutri-Score grades can leverage them as a competitive advantage, benefiting from consumers’ perception of superior nutritional quality. Over time, this dynamic may contribute to a general improvement in the overall nutritional profile of the French food supply.

The exemption for terroir products represents a political compromise, acknowledging the cultural and historical value of traditional foods. Nonetheless, as shown in a report published on by UFC-Que Choisir (2022) on 588 references covering 310 local and traditional food products from the 13 French regions, the vast majority of them (62 percent) achieved favorable NutriScore ratings (A, B and C).

At the same time, producers of AOP, IGP and organic foods are effectively encouraged to display the Nutri‑Score, reflecting growing consumer expectations for clear nutritional information – an interest also demonstrated by the remarkable success of apps such as Yuka and Open Food Facts.

Positions and comments

Deputies sponsoring the amendments emphasised consumer health and the need for clearer nutritional information. One noted that major global brands still refuse to display Nutri-Score labels despite clear public-health evidence of their utility. Supporters regard this move as a milestone in empowering consumers and reducing the burden of diet-related chronic disease.

The Minister of Health, Stéphanie Rist, expressed reservations, arguing that the reform could contravene EU law and expose France to legal challenges. However, it is worth recalling that Article 36 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) allows Member States to derogate from the principle of free movement of goods on grounds of public health protection, provided that the measure is necessary, proportionate and non-discriminatory – conditions that the Nutri-Score fully meets.

Researchers and public-health advocates broadly welcome the measure. The updated Nutri-Score algorithm implemented in March 2025 further refines its alignment with nutritional science. Comparative studies have confirmed that the Nutri-Score is among the most effective systems for communicating nutritional value and influencing healthier choices (Zhang et al., 2025; Panczyk et al., 2023; Crosbie et al., 2023).

Interim conclusions

The French Assembly’s decision to make the Nutri-Score mandatory (with targeted exemptions) marks a decisive step forward in nutrition policy and consumer protection. The measure enhances transparency, supports healthier food choices, and motivates product reformulation, in full harmony with the principles of the Mediterranean diet pyramid. The exemption for products subject to quality schemes does not serve to safeguard cultural heritage, and its application must nevertheless remain limited and transparent in order to preserve public trust.

A vote on the entire 2026 social security budget is scheduled for Wednesday, 12 November, in the National Assembly, after which the text will be transmitted to the Senate. Once adopted, the reform would mark a major step forward for consumers and the public interest, reinforcing France’s leadership in evidence-based nutrition labelling and setting a benchmark for the EU to follow.

Dario Dongo

Credit cover Dario Dongo

References

  • Andreani, G., Sogari, G., Wongprawmas, R., Menozzi, D., & Mora, C. (2025). Nutri-Score and Eco-Score Labeling: A Systematic Review of Their Impact on Consumer Understanding, Attitudes, and Behaviors. Food Reviews International 1-25. https://doi.org/10.1080/87559129.2025.2460052
  • Bauner, C., & Rahman, R. (2024). The effect of front-of-package nutrition labeling on product composition. European Review of Agricultural Economics, 51(2), 482–505. https://doi.org/10.1093/erae/jbae004
  • Bonaccio, M., Di Castelnuovo, A., Ruggiero, E., Costanzo, S., Grosso, G., De Curtis, A., Cerletti, C., Donati, M. B., De Gaetano, G., Iacoviello, L. (2022). Joint association of food nutritional profile by Nutri-Score front-of-pack label and ultra-processed food intake with mortality: Moli-sani prospective cohort study. BMJ378:e070688. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2022-070688
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  • Egnell, M., Galan, P., Farpour-Lambert, N.J., Talati, Z., Pettigrew, S., Hercberg, S., & Julia, C. (2020). Compared to other front-of-pack nutrition labels, the Nutri-Score emerged as the most efficient to inform Swiss consumers on the nutritional quality of food products. PLOS ONE, 15(2), e0228179. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0228179
  • 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
  • Panczyk, M., Dobrowolski, H., Sińska, B. I., Kucharska, A., Jaworski, M., & Traczyk, I. (2023). Food Front-of-Pack Labelling and the Nutri-Score Nutrition Label-Poland-Wide Cross-Sectional Expert Opinion Study. Foods (Basel, Switzerland), 12(12), 2346. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12122346
  • Shrestha, A., Cullerton, K., White, K. M., Mays, J., & Sendall, M. (2023). Impact of front-of-pack nutrition labelling on consumer understanding and use across socio-economic status: a systematic review.
    Appetite, 187, 106587. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2023.106587
  • Steenbergen, E., Beulens, M. J. W. J., & Temme, E. H. M. (2024). Nutri-Score in the European food retail supply: A potential incentive for food reformulation? Nutrients, 16(23), 4184. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16234184
  • Stiletto, A., Vecchio, R., Cembalo, L., & Trestini, S. (2024). The impact of Nutri-Score on consumers’ preferences for geographical indications: Evidence from a non-hypothetical experiment. Appetite, 199, 107400. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2024.107400
Dario Dongo
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Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.

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