Foods and drinks that are too sweet and too salty will be largely penalized after the modification of the algorithm which will be implemented at the beginning of 2024. The same goes for red meat and products containing sweeteners.
Its five letters and five colors have become part of the habits of the French. At a glance in a supermarket aisle, the Nutri-Score provides an overview of the nutritional qualities of a product. But be careful, from the start of 2024, the notes will change! “This new algorithm is stricter, but it is also more effective for health and it will be more effective for the consumer”, assures Serge Hercberg, professor of nutrition at Sorbonne Paris Nord University and designer of this assessment tool. Here’s what you need to know about this new version arriving on the packaging of your products.
Less well-rated sweet and savory products
Sugar and salt are the two big victims of the new Nutri-Score algorithm. Products that contain too much of it, according to scientists, will see their rating decrease. “This is particularly the case for ready-made meals which are penalized because they contain both a lot of salt and sugar”explains nutritionist Serge Hercberg, inventor of the Nutri-score.
The biggest drop will be seen in the breakfast cereal aisle. No more Chocapic (Nestlé) classified A. “Despite their commendable reformulation resulting in a reduction in their sugar content, they still contain relatively high quantities”, notes Serge Hercberg. Special K (Kellogg’s) thus move from category B to C, while others, even sweeter, turn completely red, like Lion (Nestlé), which slide from C to D.
Dairy, sweetened and plant-based drinks downgraded
There will also be numerous changes in the drinks section, with better consideration of saturated fatty acids, sugar content and energy intake. A change that will cost points, particularly for drinking yogurts or flavored milks. Yop (Yoplait) and Candy’Up (Candia) thus go from a grade B to D. Plant-based drinks (notably soy, almond, oat or rice) will also no longer be classified in A, but between B and E, depending on their nutritional composition. Semi-skimmed milk also goes from A to B and whole milk from B to C.
Sweetened drinks are also in the sights of the Nutri-Score steering committee. “Until now, they were highly ranked because they contain low amounts of sugar, if any at all.”, explains Serge Hercberg. In order to limit this incentive to use sweeteners, which also present health risks, drinks that contain them have therefore had their rating revised. Coke Zero goes from B to C (classic Coke remains classified E) and Lipton Ice Tea from C to D, for example.
Poultry and fatty fish preferred over red meat
In the meat and fish sections, certain labels will also change. “An important change concerns red meat, because we now know that consuming too much of it can promote cancer.recalls Serge Hercberg. It will therefore be penalized and ranked lower than poultry and fish.”
From 2024, red meat will generally be found in lower grade classes than poultry and fish. Fishing products, and in particular oily fish, such as salmon, mackerel or herring, will be improved and will mainly be classified in categories A and B of the Nutri-Score, provided that it is without additions ( salt or oil).
Increased differentiation between whole and refined cereals
Not all grain products are created equal. In its new version, the Nutri-Score will largely promote whole foods, rich in fiber, compared to refined products (white bread, pasta, rice). “For example, for bread, the new algorithm will allow better discrimination between complete products, mainly classified as A, and refined products, classified between B and C depending on their salt content”explains Serge Hercberg.
Some better ranked oils
Oils and fats which have low levels of saturated fatty acids (olive, rapeseed, nuts, sunflower) will gain a place in the Nutri-Score and will rise, for the most part, from grade C to B. Other oils will be classified in C or D, depending on their saturated fatty acid contents.
A gradual logo change on the shelves
After months of consultations and discussions, the recommendations of the scientific committee on food were adopted in July 2022 and those on drinks in March, recalls the Ministry of Health. Based on this work, the steering committee, made up of the competent authorities of Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland, finalized the process of revising the Nutri-Score algorithm.
In France, the regulatory text ratifying these new terms was notified to the European Commission at the end of October. It will be necessary to wait at least until the end of January 2024 for an order to be issued so that the new notes come into force. For Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland, the new algorithm will be applicable from Monday January 1, 2024.
In all cases, the appearance on packaging will be largely gradual. The authorities granted to industrialists a delay two years to adapt the Nutri-Score of their existing products.
Industrialists still worried
This update of the Nutri-Score algorithm was not done without difficulty. Since the creation of this tool, as explained in this article from World, many food manufacturers have fought to prevent it from seeing the light of day or reduce its level of requirements. “The Nutri-Score has been the subject of a very bloody battle and it continues”, explains Serge Hercberg, pointing out large groups, such as Ferrero, Lactalis, Mondelez or Coca-Cola, which have always refused to adopt it for their products. Other manufacturers joined the revolt after the announcement of this new version, such as Bjorg, recalls Que Choisir, which decided to remove the Nutri-Score from all its products, a significant part of which was going to be downgraded with this new version.