The French government announced this Friday the modification of the Nutri-Score calculation "for imperative public health reasons." Recently criticized by the Minister of Agriculture, this new scale will nevertheless come into effect with the signature of the relevant ministries. According to the official press release, it aims to "fight excess weight and obesity," sources of diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.
However, the ministers remain "attentive to side effects," particularly for iconic French regional products. Companies have two years to adapt their packaging and integrate the new Nutri-Score. This system, introduced in 2017 on a voluntary basis, is based on recent scientific research to better differentiate foods according to their salt and sugar content. The ministries are also considering European discussions to manage these impacts.
The Nutri-Score, which ranks products from A to E based on their nutritional quality, is one of the measures recognized as effective against obesity, along with the ban on advertising for fatty products and the taxation of sugary drinks.
Pascal Lemontel
|