France launches new logo for ingredient origins

Starting summer 2024, French packaging will feature a new look with the Origin'Info logo. This initiative follows Nutri-Score and aims to provide consumers with more transparency about the origins of ingredients in food products. The new logo is designed to display the origins of the three main ingredients of a product, addressing the desire of 80% of French consumers who consider ingredient origin a crucial factor.

What is Origin'Info?

Research indicates that two-thirds of processed foods do not specify the origin of their ingredients. Origin'Info aims to change this by displaying a white rectangle on packaging that shows the countries of origin for the three main ingredients. While not mandatory, this initiative has been officially launched by the French government and is supported by the Ministry of Economic Affairs. So far, 80 companies, including well-known brands like Fleury Michon and Bonduelle, have expressed interest. By the end of 2024, over 10,000 products could feature this new label.

Voluntary but promising labeling

The Origin'Info logo will initially be applied on an experimental basis and evaluated in the first half of 2025. Companies can also add a QR code for flexible origin information, although consumer organizations are skeptical about this. This system can be particularly useful for consumers looking to reduce their ecological footprint or support local agriculture. The logo can be displayed in three formats: a simple mention of the main ingredients and their origins, a version that also includes the country of processing, and a pie chart showing the proportions of the origin countries.

Clarity on ingredients and agricultural raw materials

Origin'Info distinguishes between ingredients and agricultural raw materials. For a ready-made Bolognese pasta dish, for example, the origin of the wheat, tomatoes, and beef must be indicated. Origin information can be presented in various ways: directly on the packaging, via electronic labels in stores, through a QR code, or on the online platforms of retailers. Origin labels should not indicate a supranational origin such as the "European Union," unless the number of origin countries per raw material is four or more.

Agroberichtenbuitenland.nl