Nutri-Score: France backs strict new food-labelling
'In view of the imperative public health issues at stake, the ministers have decided to sign the decree amending the rules for calculating the Nutri-Score,' reads a joint press release from the the Economy, Health, Agriculture and Trade ministers.
It is above all a question of 'combating obesity', which leads to 'problems as serious as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and certain cancers', France's Minister for Health Catherine Vautrin, said on TF1 on Friday morning.
In February, a report by consumer watchdog 60 millions de consommateurs – using data from thousands of products – claimed that numerous supermarkets' own-brand products were more likely to contain potentially harmful additives, including higher levels of sugar and salt, emulsifiers, nitrates, and antioxidants.
Designed by nutrition specialists, the Nutri-Score system was implemented in 2017 in France, on a voluntary basis, and in six other European countries.
This system classifies food products from A to E based on their composition and nutritional value. Nutritional labelling, banning advertising for sweet, savory, and fatty foods, and taxing sugary drinks are 'the most effective public policies against overweight and obesity,' according to a July 2024 study by the service statistique des ministères sociaux.
But this new version of the Nutri-Score nutritional label was criticised last week by Minister of Agriculture Annie Genevard – because of how it would affect popular French produce including cheese and charcuterie.
And ministers warned in their joint statement that they will remain 'vigilant to [possible] side effects' that this updated system may 'create for produce resulting from French expertise'.
As a result, ministries concerned will be asked to study these potential 'side effects' and 'initiate discussions at European level to see how they can be better taken into account'.
While the French health ministry has encouraged its use, ultimately it is the decision of food companies as to whether they wish to employ Nutri-Score ratings. The EU has discussed making the label compulsory, but as of 2024 a consensus had not yet been reached.
Companies and brands that do use it have 'two years to update their packaging and affix the new Nutri-Score'.
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