“It was time” to tighten the rules of Nutri-Score “to take into account nutritional recommendations”, assures its creator

A stricter version of the Nutri-Score arrives Monday on food products. It encourages certain manufacturers to “step back”, they are considering removing it from packaging.

“It was necessary to readjust the Nutri-Score” For “be consistent with the nutritional recommendations in force in Europe”, reacts Monday January 1 on franceinfo Serge Hercberg, creator of the Nutri-Score, while the indicator tightens its rules. This change in calculation method is notably less tolerant with sugar and salt.

This stricter version of the Nutri-Score pushes certain manufacturers to “to go back” and are considering removing it from their packaging, which disappoints Serge Hercberg. The nutritionist and father of Nutri-Score wants these brands to be named for “that consumers can draw the consequences” when making their purchases.

franceinfo: Is changing the method of calculating the health quality of food useful?

Serge Hercberg: It was already planned since the implementation of the Nutri-Score that it would be regularly updated, because science is evolving and we have new knowledge about the role of food on health. The food market is also evolving, with new products and reformulations, so it was necessary to readjust the Nutri-Score. It was time to more strongly mark the fact that products are sweet and savory, to make this more apparent to consumers. With the old Nutri-Score, certain products raised a consistency problem. It was therefore necessary to be consistent with the nutritional recommendations in force today in Europe.

Some manufacturers who will have a degraded Nutri-Score have decided to no longer display the indicator. What do you think ?

Unfortunately, some manufacturers are going backwards. They play transparency when it suits them and when their business seems to be compromised by a better evaluation of their products, at that moment, they no longer agree. This is entirely regrettable.

“There are also large groups which have never used the Nutri-Score such as Ferrero, Lactalis, Coca-Cola or many others”.

Serge Hercberg, creator of Nutri-Score

at franceinfo

It is absolutely necessary to cite the brands because consumers must be aware that certain companies do not give the reality of the composition of foods. It is a right of consumers to know this. It’s important that the consumer knows this [pour] that he draws the consequences in his purchases. He will know that when a product does not display the Nutri-Score, it is because the manufacturer behind it has things to hide, so he can take this into account in his purchases.

In your opinion, should this indicator become mandatory?

We must change European regulations which prevent Member States from making it compulsory. This regulation was pushed by lobbies in the 2010s. The Union must change this regulation so that the consumer can see extremely clearly on all products, can compare them with each other and guide their choices, if they so wish. wishes, towards foods of better nutritional quality.

We almost had this modification at the European level, but the lobbies were unleashed, be it the large agri-food groups and the large agricultural unions. The European Commission, which was due to change this regulation and adopt the Nutri-Score at the end of 2023, has postponed its decision-making. We fear the worst for the future if the lobbies are also heard by the European Commission.