Starting shot for the Nutri-Score in Germany
In Germany it will be possible from November 2020 to show the Nutri-Score, a simplified, color-highlighted representation of the nutritional quality of food, on the label. On October 9, 2020, the Federal Council approved an ordinance of the federal government that will enable food companies to use the Nutri-Score in a legally secure manner in the future. This paves the way for the voluntary logo to be found on more and more food labels in the future. The sense and purpose behind it: The Nutri-Score enables consumers to compare nutritional values at a glance and serves as a quick decision-making aid when shopping.
Which fruit yogurt has the better nutritional value in comparison? Do dried fruits in muesli improve its nutritional quality? For such product comparisons within a food category, the Nutri-Score provides easily understandable answers in five levels: If a food is rich in beneficial nutritional properties, it receives an A highlighted in green - the most positive Nutri-Score. A yellow highlighted C indicates a medium nutritional quality. The bottom of the rating is a red highlighted E for foods that have the comparatively poorest nutritional value and should be consumed sparingly.
The Nutri-Score supplements the nutritional table, which is prescribed for almost all packaged foods according to the EU Food Information Regulation. Foods that do not have to have a nutritional table - such as prepackaged apples or unpackaged items at the bakery or at the weekly market - are also allowed to carry the Nutri-Score. However, only if they are provided with a nutritional table on a voluntary basis. The Nutri-Score can also be used in advertising, for example in online retailing - but only for foods that actually have the logo on the label.
The Nutri-Score must be placed on the front of the product in the lower third of the pack. This is determined by the new national regulation with reference to the conditions of use of the logo anchored in European trademark law. These determine another important rule for every company that wants to use the Nutri-Score - regardless of whether in Germany, France or elsewhere: Anyone who uses the Nutri-Score for one of their product brands must label all products of this brand with it after a transition phase - no matter what the nutritional value judgment is. Only those products of a brand whose nutritional composition is favorable in any case may not be labeled.
Dr. Christina Rempe, www.bzfe.de
