What is Nutri-Score?

Nutri-Score is a nutritional quality rating system developed and introduced in France in 2017. It is placed on the front of the product (Front-of-Pack Label, FoPL) and is designed to help consumers make informed choices about food by providing information on the nutritional quality of products. The system is based on a classification of food into five groups (A-E), which are described using a color scale ranging from dark green (group A, products with the highest nutritional quality) to red (group E, products with the lowest nutritional quality). The evaluation of the nutritional quality of products is carried out using an algorithm that analyzes the nutritional value of products in quantities of 100 g or 100 ml (in the case of beverages). The system awards points in two categories: the presence of beneficial components such as fiber, protein, vegetables, fruit, legumes, nuts or vegetable oils, and the amount of detrimental components such as simple sugars, saturated fats, sodium, and energy value of the product. In the end, the results in both categories are summed up and the beneficial points are subtracted from the detrimental ones. The product receives a rating on a scale from -15 to 40 points. The lower the rating, the better the nutritional quality of the product.

Among the advantages of Nutri-Score is its location on the front of the packaging, making it easier to see and not requiring the product to be removed from the shelf. Another positive aspect is the simplicity of the design based on letters (A-E), which enables quick understanding and orientation. Its interpretation requires no extensive knowledge of nutrients and data analysis, making it an alternative to the nutritional value tables found in these packages, which are difficult for many consumers to read. An important aspect are also the colors of the scale - they primarily convey additional information regarding quality (from positively perceived green for high-quality products to warning red for low-quality products), but also attract the attention of the consumer reaching for the packaging.

The Nutri-Score system also has some unwanted characteristics. The main problem is the limited number of factors that are taken into account when awarding points. They do not take into account, for example, the content of vitamins and minerals, the degree of processing, or the presence of food additives such as colors or preservatives. This may lead to a situation where high-nutritional-value products receive more points (and hence a worse result) than low-value products. For example, food and salt sources can be a source of vitamins, hence, due to the higher sugar content of the food products from natural sources such as fruits and vegetables, this may not be possible in the usual way.

It is essential to emphasize that the Nutri-Score system is not the only method for visually indicating the nutritional quality of a product.

– Reference Intakes presents nutritional content data (calories, fats, saturated fats, salts, and simple sugars) in numerical form and reveals the degree to which they fulfill a Reference Consumption Value (RWS). The colour of the indication is neutral. – Multiple Traffic Lights resembles the reference intakes; it presents the same data but is additionally colour-coded high content of the ingredient is red, medium content is orange, and low content is green. – Health Star Rating evaluates products on a scale of 0.5 to 5 stars; it takes into account caloric content, the amount of saturated fatty acids, sugar, and salt, as well as fibre, protein, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and legumes in 100g of product. The colour of the indication is neutral. – Warning Symbol is placed on products where the content of a harmful ingredient for health exceeds the limit set by the Chilean Ministry of Health (the symbol originates from that country). It is presented as a black and white octagon (similar to the STOP road sign), on which a warning (e.g. high sugar content) is indicated.

Nutri-Score is a simple tool that informs about the nutrition quality of products. But how does it actually influence consumer choices? To verify the effectiveness of the labels on the front of the packaging, a study was conducted. As part of the survey, participants were presented with 3 sets of products from different categories (pizza, breakfast cereals, and cookies), each consisting of 3 fictitious products. Initially, however, the labels had no effect, and the respondents were asked to arrange them in order from the highest to the lowest food quality. Subsequently, they were given the same task, but this time one of the FoPL labels (Nutri-Score, Multiple Traffic Lights, Warning Sign, Reference Intakes, or Health Star Rating) was placed on the products. The survey was conducted in 12 countries, including Australia, Canada, Mexico, Singapore, and the United States. It is worth noting that the participants were not informed about the purpose of the study, nor were they familiar with the definition of FoPL, and they were not aware that they would be evaluating the same set of products twice. It was observed that placing any label on the packaging improved the evaluation by the participants, but Nutri-Score most helped participants to arrange the products in order according to their food quality (M. Egnell et al. 2018). Similar results were obtained in subsequent studies in Switzerland (M. Egnell et al. 2020), Portugal (F. Goiana-da-Silva et al. 2021), and Poland (V. A. Andreeva et al. 2022). In a review of studies comparing warning labels (Warning Sign) and color-coded ratings (Nutri-Score, Multiple Traffic Lights), it was found that Nutri-Score was rated by consumers as understandable and providing enough information. It was the only one that was perceived as noticeable and easier to remember. It was associated with an increase in the perception of products as unhealthy - this effect, however, was smaller than in the case of warning labels, which more strongly discouraged the choice of products with lower quality. The effect of promoting products with higher quality was significantly larger, which resulted in them being more frequently chosen and purchased (J. Song et al. 2021).

Up to the year 2022, the Nutri-Score System has also been adopted by other countries such as Belgium, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. In Poland, the placement of labels compliant with this system on products is not mandatory; however, there is a discernible trend of increasing number of manufacturers opting for this step.

Nutri-Score is a relatively new tool intended to facilitate nutritional decision-making. The label is easy to read, which can be particularly useful for those with less knowledge about food, for whom the information contained in the nutritional value tables may be difficult to understand. However, Nutri-Score also has its drawbacks - it evaluates a limited number of aspects, which can lead to incorrect assessments. Therefore, it is worth relying on its presence on the packaging, but not to rely on it completely when shopping. Before making a purchase, it is also worth familiarising oneself with the product's composition and its nutritional value.