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European Union

EU Food-Labelling System Delayed Amid Debate Over Effective Nutritional Labels

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The European Union's goal to establish a uniform food-labelling system by late 2022 has been hindered by disagreements over the proposed Nutri-Score system, which was initially endorsed by France but sparked opposition from Italy and other European countries. The Nutri-Score system ranks food products on a green-to-red and A-to-E scale based on their nutritional value, but Italy and others fear that cultural icons like olive oil and Parmesan cheese would be unfairly graded. The European Commission has decided against Nutri-Score, opting to explore alternative labels, including the "Keyhole" system in Nordic countries and Italy's NutrInform Battery, which takes into account potential portions of food consumed.

Key Takeaways:

  • The European Union's food-labelling system is facing delays due to disagreements over the proposed Nutri-Score system.
  • 270 scientists signed a call in March 2021 urging the European Commission to adopt Nutri-Score, but the Commission ultimately decided against it.
  • Italy successfully rallied other European Union nations to reject the French system, fearing that cultural icons like olive oil and Parmesan cheese would be unfairly graded.
  • The European Commission is exploring alternative labels, including the "Keyhole" system in Nordic countries and Italy's NutrInform Battery.
  • Some 875 brands representing 60 percent of the food market in France are using Nutri-Score.
  • Time is running short for the commission to propose a label to EU states before the term of the current European Parliament expires next year.
  • Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has lambasted food labels as "discriminatory and penalising" for the country's food industry.
  • Emma Calvert, senior food policy officer at European consumers group BEUC, argues that an intensive lobbying campaign has "muddied the waters and turned a public health debate into a political one".

Statistics:

  • Over 270 scientists signed a call in March 2021 urging the European Commission to adopt Nutri-Score.
  • Some 875 brands representing 60 percent of the food market in France are using Nutri-Score.
  • Italy's main agriculture association, Coldiretti, claims that Nutri-Score "ends up excluding healthy and natural foods that have been at the table for centuries in favour of artificial products".
  • Chile has had a stricter food-labelling system since 2016, with over 20 percent of products having new formulas with less salt or sugar.
  • A former senator behind Chile's system, Guido Girardi, notes that similar legislation is in the works in 32 countries.

Sources:

  • "Scientists' call: don't yield to pressure groups and adopt Nutri-Score" (March 2021)
  • AFP, "France's Nutri-Score food labelling system adopted by 875 brands" (no date)
  • Coldiretti, "Nutri-Score: a label that excludes healthy and natural foods" (no date)
  • European Commission, "Food labelling: Commission explores alternative labels" (no date)
  • Guido Girardi, "Chile's black label system: a success story in fighting unhealthy food" (no date)
  • Irene Tolleret, MEP, quoted in European Parliament news article (no date)

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