Search

Background: To help consumers to make healthier food choices, 7 European countries have implemented the front-of-pack nutrition label Nutri-Score. The algorithm was updated in 2022-2023 by the Nutri-Score European scientific committee, based on the current scientific knowledge., Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the consistency of the newly internationally developed algorithm with the French food-based dietary guidelines (FBDG) and compare the respective performances of the initial and updated algorithm., Methods: Three complementary French food composition databases were used to access extensive coverage of the food supply in France (n = 46,752): the Oqali, OpenFoodFacts, and CIQUAL databases. Based on the French FBDG, a list of 41 criteria was defined by which the consistency between French FBDG and the Nutri-Score was assessed (eg, consumption of fresh vegetables is promoted in FBDG, thus the Nutri-Score should rate favorably such products)., Results: Of all criteria, the initial algorithm met 63% (26/41) of them, whereas the revised algorithm met 85% (35/41) of them. Improvements achieved by the updated version of the Nutri-Score in alignment with the FBDG were particularly observed for high-fat products (ie, fatty fish, nuts, and seeds), sweet products (ie, ice creams and sweet spreads), salty products (ie, savory snacks and salted nuts), dairy beverages, and beverages with artificial sweeteners., Conclusions: The Nutri-Score's updated nutrient profiling system appears to rate foods more consistently regarding the French dietary guidelines and improved the currently existing system. This work supports the implementation of the updated nutrient profiling system underlying Nutri-Score., (Copyright © 2024 American Society for Nutrition. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To compare the initial and the updated versions of the front-of-pack label Nutri-Score (related to the nutritional content) with the NOVA classification (related to the degree of food processing) at the food level., Design: Using the OpenFoodFacts database - 129,950 food products - we assessed the complementarity between the Nutri-Score (initial and updated) with the NOVA classification through a correspondence analysis. Contingency tables between the two classification systems were used., Settings: The food offer in France., Participants: Not applicable., Results: With both versions (i.e. initial and updated) of the Nutri-Score, the majority of ultra-processed products received medium to poor Nutri-Score ratings (between 77·9 % and 87·5 % of ultra-processed products depending on the version of the algorithm). Overall, the update of the Nutri-Score algorithm led to a reduction in the number of products rated A and B and an increase in the number of products rated D or E for all NOVA categories, with unprocessed foods being the least impacted (-3·8 percentage points (-5·2 %) rated A or B and +1·3 percentage points (+12·9 %) rated D or E) and ultra-processed foods the most impacted (-9·8 percentage points (-43·4 %) rated A or B and +7·8 percentage points (+14·1 %) rated D or E). Among ultra-processed foods rated favourably with the initial Nutri-Score, artificially sweetened beverages, sweetened plant-based drinks and bread products were the most penalised categories by the revision of Nutri-Score while low-sugar flavoured waters, fruit and legume preparations were the least affected., Conclusion: These results indicate that the update of the Nutri-Score reinforces its coherence with the NOVA classification, even though both systems measure two distinct health dimensions at the food level.

DEBUNKING FAKE NEWS ABOUT NUTRI-SCORE The Nutri-Score is a front-of-pack nutrition label (FoPNL) officially adopted in France to be affixed on food packaging. It is intended to allow to easily compare the nutritional quality of foods and help consumers to orient their choices towards better nutritional quality alternatives. It is a sciencebased public health tool. But the agri-food lobbies are opposed to its deployment and they spread out many fake news aimed at discrediting Nutri-Score. These fake news are sometimes taken up by people in good faith who do not know enough about the issue FoPNL or by certain actors defending economic or sometimes ideological interests. This article aims to debunk some of these fake news widely relayed by lobbies., Competing Interests: Les auteurs déclarent n’avoir aucun lien d’intérêts.

As scientists working and publishing in the field of front-of-pack nutrition labelling (FOPNL) for many years, we have read with interest and concern the narrative review regarding their effectiveness by Muzzioli et al. [...].

Introduction: The front-of-pack nutritional labeling system Nutri-Score is sometimes under attack because it classifies as A and B certain ultra-processed foods. In fact, this is not surprising given that nutritional quality (assessed by Nutri-Score) and ultra-processing (assessed by the NOVA classification) do not cover the same "health dimensions" in foods but rather different dimensions likely to affect health through specific mechanisms. Although they cover different and complementary dimensions, there is nevertheless an overall association between the degree of processing and nutritional quality of foods. But within the group of ultra-processed foods there are differences in the number, type and doses of additives, as well as differences in nutritional quality. Therefore Nutri-Score allows, within the category of ultra-processed foods (as for all categories of the NOVA classification), to differentiate the nutritional quality of foods, which is essential in terms of health impact. Indeed, regardless of the level of food processing, it has been shown that consuming foods that are better ranked on the Nutri-Score scale is associated with a health benefit and a lower risk of chronic diseases. This is important because, even if it is recommended to reduce the consumption of ultra-processed foods, for those who do not want to or cannot avoid consuming them, for those for whom cooking is difficult (for reasons of time, ease, taste, etc.), the choice of foods better ranked on the Nutri-Score scale has a positive impact on health. Nutri-Score and ultra-transformation must be considered two different and complementary dimensions.

"Nutri-score : results 3 years after its official adoption in franc Since its adoption 3 years ago, we have witnessed a strong dynamic of Nutri-Score both in France and in several European countries. Scientific work demonstrating its effectiveness has accumulated. More and more manufacturers and retailers are committed to displaying the Nutri-Score on their products, which is the subject of strong consumer support. A battle against powerful lobbies is underway at the level of the European Commission for it to be chosen in 2022 as the harmonised and mandatory nutritional logo for Europe. But right now, healthcare professionals, especially medical doctors, can use this tool as part of the nutritional care of their patients to help them improve the nutritional quality of their food choices at the point of purchase.", Competing Interests: "Les auteurs déclarent n’avoir aucun lien d’intérêts."