Nutri-Score: definition, calculation and products concerned
Designed as part of the National Health Nutrition Program, Nutri-Score has gradually appeared on the shelves of our supermarkets. His goal ? Improve the nutritional information of products to help consumers buy good quality food. Explanations.
Nutri-Score, a label that facilitates the identification of foods of good nutritional quality
Placed on the packaging, the Nutri-Score logo is intended to provide clear, visible and easy to understand information on the nutritional quality of foods.
It is within the framework of the law on the modernization of our health system of January 26, 2016 that a consultation was conducted with manufacturers, distributors, consumers, health authorities and scientists, to define the terms of this labeling.
The Nutri-Score logo was designed by Public Health France, at the request of the Directorate General for Health, based on the work of the team of Professor Serge Hercberg, President of the National Health Nutrition Program (PNNS), the expertise of ANSES (the National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety) and the High Council for Public Health.
How to recognize the Nutri-Score?
The Nutri-Score logo, affixed on the front of the packaging, is represented by a scale of 5 colors, from dark green to red, associated with letters going from A to E to facilitate its understanding. Each product is therefore positioned on the Nutri-Score scale from A, for the most nutritionally favorable products, to E for the least favorable products.
How is the score of a product calculated?
A mathematical algorithm, public and validated by teams of researchers, makes it possible to calculate the overall nutritional quality of foods.
It records the favorable elements considered to be good for health:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- legumes
- Nuts
- Colza oil
- Nut oil
- Olive oil
- Fibres
- Protein
And the elements to limit (sugar, salt, saturated fatty acids…), the high levels of which are considered bad for health.
The score calculation is based on nutritional data for 100 grams of product, the nutrients of which are part of the mandatory nutritional declaration or which can supplement it (in compliance with article 30 of the “INCO” regulation n ° 1169/2011 ), that is :
- Energy value
- The amount of lipids
- The amount of saturated fatty acids
- The amount of carbohydrates
- The amount of sugars
- The amount of protein
- The amount of salt
- Fibers
After calculation, the score obtained by a product allows it to be assigned a letter and a color.
Which products are affected?
The Nutri-Score concerns almost all processed foods (with a few exceptions, such as aromatic herbs, teas, coffees, infant foods intended for children from 0 to 3 years old…) and all drinks, except alcoholic beverages. Products whose largest side has an area of less than 25 cm² are also exempted.
Unprocessed products, such as fresh fruits and vegetables are not affected.
The Nutri-Score also makes it possible to compare the same product from different brands: the same product can be classified as A, B, C, D or E depending on the brand or the recipe used.
How to use it on a daily basis?
As part of a balanced diet, it is recommended to choose products with good scores as often as possible and to consume only occasionally and in small quantities foods with scores D and E.
Is Nutri-score labeling mandatory?
Affixing the Nutri-Score is optional, it is based on the voluntary work of food companies and many manufacturers refuse to include the logo on the packaging of their products. However, it has been mandatory on all advertising media since 2019 and is calculated for most products on Open Food Facts.