Nutri-Score under scrutiny amid criticism of scoring system

The hope for a unified European food choice logo seems distant. Nutri-Score, long the leading candidate, has faced opposition from Mediterranean countries due to unfavorable ratings for traditional products like olive oil and Parmesan cheese. These differences have led the European Commission to delay its decision on a standardized logo, leaving no new deadline. Meanwhile, major supermarket chains such as Albert Heijn, Lidl, and Carrefour continue to use Nutri-Score, aiming to encourage healthier dietary choices.

Voluntary adoption among brand manufacturers

Supermarkets in countries like the Netherlands, France, and Germany can use Nutri-Score on a voluntary basis, resulting in high logo visibility on private label products. For example, Albert Heijn labels a large portion of its private label items with Nutri-Score. Brand manufacturers, however, seem less willing to adopt the label, particularly if the expected score is less favorable. This creates an uneven distribution of Nutri-Score ratings between private labels and branded products, which can reduce transparency for consumers.

Selective labeling by brands

The voluntary nature of Nutri-Score leads to selective adoption by brand manufacturers. Danone, for example, a previous supporter of Nutri-Score, decided to remove the label from certain products that would now receive a lower score following adjustments to Nutri-Score’s criteria. This selective use raises questions about the effectiveness of a voluntary food choice logo. True transparency and consistency remain difficult to achieve without a unified mandate, which hinders consumers’ ability to make fully informed choices.

Rabobank.nl