A new colored label should make it easier for consumers to see whether mueslis and frozen pizzas are “fattening up” – or not. How is that going one year after the official start?
The new food logo Nutri-Score as an aid to buying healthier products is becoming more and more popular in supermarkets.
One year after a legal framework for use in Germany came into force, 244 local companies with 470 brands have registered for it, as the Federal Ministry of Food announced on request in Berlin. Among them are manufacturers and dealers of various sizes and industries. According to recent announcements, the number of products with Nutri-Score on the German market will also continue to increase.
The system developed in France means something like “nutritional value score” and, in addition to sugar, fat and salt, also includes recommended elements such as fiber, protein or proportions of fruit and vegetables. Points are awarded for the quantities per 100 grams. The result is a single total value, which is mapped on a five-point scale: from “A” on a dark green field for the most favorable balance to a yellow “C” to a red “E” for the most unfavorable one. The applicable field is highlighted.
Not started from scratch
As a framework for legally secure use in Germany, an ordinance by Food Minister Julia Klöckner (CDU) came into force on November 6, 2020. However, the logo did not start from scratch; individual providers were already using it beforehand. Companies that want to use Nutri-Score have to register with the French health agency as a trademark owner and then also adhere to regulations. This is a supplement to the EU-wide mandatory nutritional value tables, which can usually be found in small letters on the back of the packaging. Nutri-Score needs to be on the front.
Its use in Germany has gradually increased. By mid-January there were 93 registered companies, then 116 in mid-February and 214 in mid-August. And for manufacturers, Nutri-Score creates competitive pressure to reduce sugar, fats and salt in order to achieve a more favorable rating.
Doctors insist on an EU-wide mandatory introduction. “As long as the Nutri-Score is voluntary, it can only develop its effect to a very limited extent,” explained the German Noncommunicable Diseases Alliance as an association of medical-scientific societies, associations and research institutions. “We only get real transparency in front of the supermarket shelf if the Nutri-Score can really be found on all products.” For this, the possible future traffic light coalition must make itself strong.
Source From: Stern
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
