On March 14, 2025, the French government validated the new Nutri-Score formula, aiming to address pressing public health concerns including overweight and obesity. The revised calculation method seeks to provide consumers with clearer guidance toward healthier food choices without penalizing traditional products.
The announcement was made by four ministers—those responsible for Economy, Health, Agriculture, and Commerce—who stated their intention to combat the public health issues affecting the nation. This initiative is particularly significant as statistics reveal almost one in two French citizens faces overweight or obesity issues.
The Nutri-Score, originally implemented voluntarily since 2017, categorizes food products from A (green) to E (red) based on their nutritional composition. The new formula promises to improve the differentiation between foods according to their salt and sugar levels and to offer more accurate classifications for items like fatty fish, healthier oils, and beverages.
Dr. Grégory Emery, the Director General of Health, emphasized the importance of this innovation, stating, "The Nutri-Score is a French innovation which is a true public health tool, praised by the French and influencing purchasing choices, and we cannot act as if overweight and obesity are not public health issues." His comments highlight the urgency of addressing health problems associated with diet.
A substantial shift is anticipated as about 30% to 40% of food products might change their scores under the new criteria. Pauline Ducrot, Health Promotion Expert at Public Health France, indicated, "Many products will see their scores change, with between 30% and 40% of products affected." This implies a significant reevaluation of food product ratings as the government pushes for healthier choices.
Companies now have two years to update their packaging to reflect the new Nutri-Score. The government reassured stakeholders, stating, "We are attentive to ensuring this system does not harm products from our rich terroir and symbols of our culinary heritage." This careful consideration aims to strike a balance between promoting health and preserving traditional French foods.
The recent validations of the Nutri-Score have not been without controversy. While the scientific community applauded the update, some government officials expressed concerns about how these changes may affect certain traditional foods. Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard previously publicly blocked the release of the new rules, arguing they could unfairly disadvantage exemplary products like cheese and cured meats. She emphasized the need for continued improvements to the scoring system, saying, "Yes to the Nutri-Score, but with requests for continuous improvement of the device."
Critics highlight potential unintended consequences; for example, evaluating foods solely on 100 grams could misrepresent typical consumption patterns. Genevard noted, "When we take cheese, 100 grams is classified as E, but we do not account for the reality of normal cheese consumption, which is around 30 grams." This points to the need for user-friendly and realistic evaluation criteria.
Foodwatch, the consumer advocacy group, viewed the decree as victory against aggressive lobbying from the food industry to maintain less restrictive labeling. They called this outcome "a citizen mobilization against food lobbies," indicating substantial public support for transparent food labeling practices.
Several players within the retail and food processing sectors endorsed the updated Nutri-Score. Thierry Cotillard, President of the Intermarché Group, shared his perspective via Linked-in, stating, “I think it’s a good thing,” remarking how poorer scores could drive reformulation of product recipes. The Federation of Supermarkets (FCD), representing supermarket interests, was equally supportive, characterizing the Nutri-Score as beneficial for guiding healthier nutrition choices.
Despite enthusiasm, both government and industry stakeholders recognize more work is needed to persuade all food producers to adopt the Nutri-Score fully. Pr. Serge Hercberg, one of its original developers, remarked, "There are still battles to be fought to convince industry players to adopt the Nutri-Score and eventually make it compulsory to maximize people's chances for making informed choices." His comments suggest the path toward universal adoption of the labeling system will require continued advocacy and negotiation.
This refinement of the Nutri-Score appears to reflect broader trends toward healthier eating habits among the French populace. Experts argue it plays a pivotal role, as the country navigates its public health challenges, from the substantial impacts of obesity on chronic conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Government agencies are now tasked with monitoring the adaptation of these new scoring criteria, studying potential side effects affecting traditional food products and their manufacturers.
Overall, the newly validated Nutri-Score formula offers not only revisions to public health policy but also serves as potentially transformative for consumer behavior and industry practices, promoting healthier diets amid France's culinary richness. Obesity and related health challenges are underscored as significant issues, confronting France with multifaceted societal responses and adaptation to modern consumption patterns.