News item | 22-12-2023 | 09:30
From January 1, Nutri-Score will officially be the food choice logo of the Netherlands. It is one of the tools to help consumers make better nutritional choices. With Nutri-Score you can easily and quickly compare the same types of products while shopping. And it is easier to choose the product with a better composition. This is especially useful for products that are not included in the Wheel of Five. Such as sauces, soft drinks, cookies, pizzas and snacks.
The Nutri-Score consists of a letter (A to E) and a color (dark green to dark orange). The score shows whether the product has a better composition compared to the same type of products. This allows you, for example, to compare different breakfast cakes. A gingerbread zero with a dark green A has a better composition than a gingerbread candy with an orange D. The Nutri-Score does not show whether a product is healthy or unhealthy, but whether it has a better or worse composition compared to the same type of products. has.
Maarten van Ooijen (outgoing State Secretary for Health, Welfare and Sport): “Nutri-Score is an addition to the existing nutritional guidelines. The advice remains to eat according to the Wheel of Five as much as possible. Because the Wheel of Five shows which products are a healthy choice. Do you eat something outside the Wheel of Five? Then Nutri-Score is a useful tool. It helps when shopping to quickly and easily see which product has a better composition. Without having to read the label on the back.”
This is how the Nutri-Score is calculated
Nutri-Score is originally a French system that is used in several European countries (France, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland and Luxembourg). In order to better align the algorithm with the Dutch dietary guidelines, the algorithm has been revised by an international scientific committee.
Joline Beulens, professor of lifestyle epidemiology & chronic diseases at Amsterdam UMC, is one of the Dutch representatives on the committee: “The revised algorithm mainly makes it clear which products have a poorer composition. They receive a yellow, orange or dark orange score. For example, there are currently no known pizzas that can receive a dark green A with the revised algorithm. And Diet Coke gets a yellow C instead of a green B in the revised algorithm, because sweeteners now get negative points. With the green scores, Nutri-Score often makes a distinction, but not always enough. For example, white and whole wheat pasta and rice both have a dark green A. While according to the Guidelines for a Good Diet, the whole wheat variants are preferred.”
The Nutri-Score is determined per product using a special calculation (algorithm). Products receive a higher score due to protein, fiber, fruit, vegetables and legumes. And products receive a lower score due to energy content (kcal), sugars, saturated fat and salt. The calculation results in a total score for a product. For example, a dark green A or an orange D.
Van Ooijen continues: “With the revised algorithm, Nutri-Score is more in line with the Dutch dietary guidelines. Further adjustment of the algorithm remains necessary. But as the Health Council already stated after evaluating the revised algorithm, the 100 percent perfect food choice logo does not exist. Obesity and chronic diseases are increasing dramatically. We must use every tool available to make better choices when it comes to nutrition.”
Transition period
From January 1, manufacturers can choose whether to put a Nutri-Score on their products. If they choose to do this, they must put the Nutri-Score on every product of their brand. They then use the revised algorithm to calculate the scores.
The packages with a Nutri-Score that were already in stores before January 1 come from countries that have already introduced the Nutri-Score. In addition, there are Dutch companies that have placed the food choice logo on their products in a pilot phase to gain experience with the Nutri-Score logo.
Dutch companies that already had the Nutri-Score on their products in the pilot phase must have adjusted the Nutri-Score on their products according to the revised algorithm by July 1, 2024. Companies from countries that have already introduced Nutri-Score will have until the end of 2025 to do so. From January 1, the store shelves will temporarily contain products with the current and revised algorithm.
Public campaign
A good explanation of how to use Nutri-Score when shopping is important. That is why the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport will start a public campaign in April 2024. Then the Nutri-Score can be seen on more and more products in stores.