THE NUTRI-SCORE SYSTEM FOR FRONT-OF-PACK NUTRITIONAL LABELLING: ALGORITHM UPDATES, BENEFITS, AND RISKS

Abstract

Front-of-pack (FOP) nutritional labelling systems, such as Nutri-Score, play an increasingly important role in promoting healthier dietary choices and enhancing consumer awareness of food nutritional quality. Nutri-Score offers a simplified, color-coded summary that aligns with public health recommendations and enables product comparisons within the same category. Its regulatory implementation has been adopted voluntarily by several European countries, while efforts toward EU-wide harmonization are ongoing. In 2024, a revised Nutri-Score algorithm has come into effect, aiming to better reflect current dietary recommendations through changes in product classification. For example, milk and dairy-based drinks are now categorized as beverages, with their scores primarily based on fat and sugar content, diet beverages containing sweeteners are also rated less favourably. Improved scores have been assigned to nutritionally beneficial products, such as whole-grain bread, oily fish, vegetable oils, and low-salt cheeses, while lower scores have been applied to sweetened yoghurts, breakfast cereals, and red meat products. Although Nutri-Score facilitates more informed purchasing decisions, it does not fully support consumers in constructing balanced diets and is not equally applicable across all food categories, particularly for single-ingredient or traditional products. This article examines the benefits and limitations of Nutri-Score, considering both regulatory developments and recent scientific literature related to its algorithmic modifications. However, the future of Nutri-Score remains uncertain amid growing political, institutional, and industry-level criticism across parts of Europe.