In its Farm to Fork Strategy published in 2020, the European Commission committed to proposing harmonized mandatory front-of-package nutrition labeling (FOPNL) by the end of 2022. This decision was postponed, providing no further deadline, as the authorities struggled to reach a consensus on the acceptable FOPNL. Among the contenders, the Nutri-Score - a 5-color grading FOPNL, stood out as a promising candidate. However, its implementation faced strong opposition, particularly from some member states and food manufacturers. While much of the criticism was attributed to political considerations, some concerns focussed on the scientific background of the Nutri-Score and its perceived lack of alignment with food-based dietary guidelines. In response to these critiques, the Scientific Committee of Nutri-Score released two reports and completed update of the Nutri-Score algorithm in 2023, aiming to address the relevant concerns and enhance its overall effectiveness.

In March 2024, first in-depth systematic evaluation of the updated Nutri-Score algorithm was published in Food Frontiers - high-impact scientific journal of Wiley Publishing. Study was independently conducted by a team at the Slovenian Nutrition Institute, which has not been included in the development or revision of the Nutri-Score. Prof. dr. Igor Pravst, Nutrition Institute: “The assessment was based on an extensive literature review of the limitations identified in the original Nutri-Score algorithm. Following the review, we used a large branded food database to examine how the distribution of Nutri-Score changed with the updated version and whether these modifications successfully addressed the limitations identified in the literature review.”

The systematic literature review included all scientific papers that highlighted limitations of the original Nutri-Score algorithm. This comprehensive analysis included 30 papers, collectively identifying a total of 20 distinct limitations. Edvina Hafner, Nutrition Institute, Slovenia: “Observing criticisms of the original Nutri-Score algorithm, they can be classified into three groups. The most common are critiques on the lack of alignment with food-based dietary guidelines, followed by component-based limitations (e.g. masking high sugar content) and other dimensions of food quality, with a particular focus on ultra-processed foods “

The subsequent evaluation of Nutri-Score involved nutrient profiling a large representative branded food database comprising 19,510 pre-packed foods and beverages, using both the original and updated algorithm. The comparison also included an assessment against the WHO Europe profile. Prof. dr. Igor Pravst: “Our findings reveal that updated Nutri-Score is notably stricter compared to its predecessor, with 7% fewer products receiving higher grades A or B. Furthermore, it demonstrated increased alignment with the WHO Europe profile, transitioning from moderate to strong, indicating progress in addressing the concerns raised in the literature.”

Study results showed that most limitations (65%) of literature review were addressed to some extent, mostly those associated with food-based dietary guidelines. Edvina Hafner: “The updated algorithm showed notable downgrading in food categories of concern, such as pizza, sugary breakfast cereals, beverages with non-nutritive sweeteners and ready meals. Because the algorithm is now stricter and penalizes high sugar and salt more, it is harder to be manipulated. This means it's tougher for companies to mask negative attributes to get a better grade.” Updated algorithm also improved grading for some products, which include olive oil, nuts, some cheeses and unprocessed fish.

The newly published systematic assessment concluded that the updated Nutri-Score has shown notable improvements, increasing its potential for implementation across Europe. The majority of relevant reported limitations were addressed, while some cannot be resolved without a major revision of food labelling regulations, with a requirement for additional mandatory food information. Prof dr. Igor Pravst: “Some improvements - such as accounting for the content of specific micronutrients or whole grains are limited under existing EU legislation. Consequently, broader legislative changes might be needed to integrate these aspects into a food profiling system intended for use in the real life. While more complex models could be incorporated into research studies, where we can estimate the content of a wide variety of micronutrients and other food constituents, such models would not be very friendly for the food industry.”

Link to study

• Hafner, E., & Pravst, I. (2024). A systematic assessment of the revised Nutri-Score algorithm: Potentials for the implementation of front-of-package nutrition labeling across Europe. Food Frontiers, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1002/fft2.387