The NutriScore system-a summary nutritional information on the front of packaged food labels-must be defended against the lobbies that, with the help of Big Food ‘s advertising-fueled media-try to thwart its adoption by the European Commission.
We reiterate our readers’ invitation to sign the petition in support of NutriScore, at the link https://bit.ly/3STjJAU (1,2). To help consumers choose foods with balanced food profiles and mitigate the current public health crisis related to obesity, overweight and related diseases.
1) NutriScore, a logo to help consumers choose balanced foods
The NutriScore logo was conceived by Professor Serge Hercberg, Professor Emeritus of Nutrition at the Équipe de Recherche en Épidémiologie Nutritionnelle (EREN) at the University of the Sorbonne (Paris, France). Aiming to classify foods, based on their nutritional profiles, and help consumers understand at a glance, thanks to a letter (A to E) and a corresponding color (green to vermillion orange):
- which foods within each category are most nutritionally balanced (e.g., lower energy density, lower contents of saturated fat, added sugars and salt, higher amounts of complex carbohydrates, fiber, protein, unsaturated fat),
- How to place various foods in the context of a balanced diet, such as the Mediterranean diet. In fact, the colors on the NutriScore logo on the label also serve to understand the greater or lesser frequency and quantity with which various foods may be consumed.
2) Scientific basis and support, governance
The algorithm developed to evaluate the nutritional profiles of foods and the simple logo to communicate the result are the result of years of research by the independent scientific community. Which considered both the public health needs of the European population, its dietary patterns, and the effectiveness of different communication tools to impact consumption choices.
Numerous scientific studies-including the latest scientific review update conducted by the European Commission’s Joint Research Center (JRC) (3)-have confirmed the validity of the NutriScore approach. Among other things, its algorithm is subject to periodic updates as nutrition guidelines and research evolve-with governance that includes health authorities from seven European countries. (4)
3) Effectiveness
‘Overall, Nutri-Score supplemental labeling enables better alignment of food choices and health preferences-particularly for consumers who are overwhelmed by technical nutrition claims on the back of labels-and helps differentiate products with relatively unhealthy nutrient profiles‘ (Gassler et al., 2022). (5)
Efficacy and interest–for consumers and public health–have been demonstrated, in addition to numerous scientific studies, by:
- The adoption of NutriScore in 7 countries. After France, so did Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland,
- its application, on a voluntary basis, on more than 800 brands of food products marketed in the Old Continent,
- its extraordinary ‘bottom-up’ application. Thanks to Yuka, the app that allows the more than 25 million registered users to enter more data.
4) Impact of NutriScore on the nutritional quality of foods.
The impact of NutriScore on the nutritional quality of food is equally significant. Already in 2019, Intermarché, one of France’s leading large-scale retailers (GDO), has announced the reformulation of more than 900 products. To reach the levels “NutriScore A, B or C and a Yuka score above 50.” And thus new recipes, including eliminating more than a hundred additives, and increased supply of organic products.
Food industries, faced with the five colors, are forced to reckon with the nutritional profiles of processed and ultra-processed foods. (6) But the junk food business is so lucrative that Big Food is unwilling to give it up. Thus Ferrero, Nestlé, Mondelez, Kraft, Mars, Lactalis, and Savencia, Coca-Cola, and PepsiCo-rather than offer transparent news about the (poor) nutritional quality of their goods-have unleashed every lobby to oppose the application of the NutriScore. (7)
5) The petition
The petition is simple. We ask:
1) to national governments to put public health before the private interests of junk-food producers. Therefore, recognize the NutriScore as aFront-of-Pack Nutrition Labeling (FOPNL) system to be mandatorily applied on food labels in the EU,
2) to the European Parliament, to reaffirm its support for the NutriScore by setting aside any compromise assumptions that would result in its disapplication on products intended for the general population, (8)
3) to the large-scale retail trade and industry, address their responsibilities for nutritional safety. Consumers will continue to check the NutriScore of their products through apps, such as Yuka, which no one can ever ban. There is no escape.
Dario Dongo
Notes
(1) Dario Dongo, Andrea Adelmo Della Penna. NutriScore, consumer health prevails over agribusiness lobby. Petition and insights. FT (Food Times). 18.5.22
(2) The petition in support of the NutriScore is supported:
– in France, by EREN (Équipe de Recherche en Épidémiologie Nutritionnelle, Inserm/Inrae/Cnam/Université Sorbonne Paris Nord), SFNCM (Société Française de Nutrition Clinique et Métabolique), SFN (Société Française de Nutrition), AFDN (Association Française des Diététiciens Nutritionnistes), SFD (Société Francophone du Diabète), AFERO (Association Française d’Étude et de Recherche sur l’Obésité), APOP (Association pour la prise en charge et la Prévention de l’Obésité en Pédiatrie), CERENUT (Centre de Ressources en Nutrition Nouvelle Aquitaine), AFPA (Association Française des Pédiatres Ambulatoire), AFPEL (Association Française des Pédiatres Endocrinologues Libéraux), CEDE (Club Européen des Diététiciens de l’Enfance), FNES (Fédération Nationale d’Éducation et de promotion de la Santé), SFSP (Société Française de Santé Publique), ISPED (Institut de Santé Publique, d’Epidémiologie et de Développement), SMISP (Syndicat des Médecins Inspecteurs de Santé Publique), AMISP (Association des Médecins Inspecteurs de Santé Publique), SFHTA (Société Française d’Hypertension Artérielle), AFEF (Société Française d’Hépatologie), SNFGE (Société Nationale Française de Gastro-Entérologie), SFC (Société Française du Cancer), FFCD (Fédération Francophone de Cancérologie Digestive), CMG (Collège de Medecine Générale), NACRE (Nutrition Activité Physique Cancer Recherche) network, Fédération Addiction, Chaire Recherche Sciences Infirmières AP-HP/Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, FFC (Fédération Française de Cardiologie), France Assos Santé, Ligue contre le Cancer, Fédération Française des Diabétiques, Santé Diabète (NGO), CNAO (Collectif National des Associations d’Obèses), CLCV (Association nationale de défense des consommateurs et usagers Consommation Logement Cadre de vie), INCODESA-CGT (association de consommateurs salariés de la CGT), ASEF (Association Santé Environnement France), RAC (Réseau Action Climat), Association des Amis de la Terre France, OTMeds (Observatoire de la Transparence dans les politiques du médicament),
– at the European level, by ECOG (The European Childhood Obesity Group), ASPHER (Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region). The adoption of the NutriScore at the European level is also supported by the confederation of consumer protection associations in the EU (BEUC, where AltroConsumo also participates) and the European consumer association Foodwatch
(3) Dario Dongo, Andrea Adelmo Della Penna. European Commission, research confirms NutriScore approach. FT (Food Times). 14.9.22
(4) Dario Dongo. NutriScore, evolution of the science-based algorithm. FT (Food Times). 1.8.22
(5) Gassler, B., Faesel, C. K., & Moeser, A. (2022). Toward a differentiated understanding of the effect of Nutri-Score nutrition labeling on healthier food choices. Agribusiness, 1- 23. https://doi.org/10.1002/agr.21762
(6) Marta Strinati. From Nestlé to Ferrero. Almost all baby foods are harmful. FT (Food Times). 3.9.21
(7) Dario Dongo. NutriScore, Ferrero and Coldiretti against all. FT (Food Times). 16.7.21
(8) Dario Dongo. Farm to Fork, Nutri-Score and product reformulation. FT (Food Times). 25.10.21
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
