Why does Nestlé support Nutri-Score in Europe?

People should be able to make informed food and beverage choices. We have a responsibility to communicate in a transparent, comprehensive way about our products, including ingredients and nutritional values. That includes information on our products, at point-of-sale and online.

In June 2019, we announced the front-of-pack nutrition labeling scheme Nutri-Score as our preferred system in continental Europe. Since then, we have been implementing it at scale, wherever it is permitted. Products displaying this intuitive system are now on shelves in eight countries: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland. Nutri-Score offers a holistic assessment of foods and beverages, giving each product a color-coded score from A–E based on nutritional value. It already appears on several Nestlé brands, including Garden Gourmet plant-based products, Nesquik chocolate-flavored milk, Nestlé Dessert Chocolate, Maggi culinary products, and breakfast cereals such as Nestlé Fitness and Chocapic. Our plan is to implement Nutri-Score labels on around 7500 products by 2022.

Our support for Nutri-Score reflects our commitment to good nutrition and informed choices. People are increasingly eager to know what is in their food and beverages. We want to provide them with clear nutritional information. Scientific evidence and consumer support show that Nutri-Score is a solution that works in continental Europe.

Marco Settembri CEO of Nestlé for Zone Europe, Middle East and North Africa (EMENA)

What is Nutri-Score?

Nutri-Score is a color-coded nutrition label that classifies foods and beverages according to their nutritional profile, with a scale from A (healthier choices) to E (less healthy choices).

It was developed by the French national public health agency. The system allows a holistic understanding of the nutritional quality of a product, to enable people to make informed decisions towards healthier diets.

What is the benefit of Nutri-Score for consumers?

The main benefit of Nutri-Score is to help consumers to make informed choices within a product category. For instance, consumers can easily compare the nutritional value of different pizzas and opt for the one with the best score (e.g. 'B' instead of 'C'). Nutri-Score can therefore help consumers to have a healthy and balanced diet.

How is the Nutri-score rating calculated?

Nutri-Score gives a rating to the product based on a scientific algorithm. It takes into account ingredients that are good for you and therefore to be encouraged, such as nuts, fruit, vegetables, fibers, proteins and olive, nut, and colza oils. It also takes into account ingredients to limit, such as sugars, energy (calories), sodium (salt) and saturated fat. Nutri-score is based on 100gr or 100ml of product.

What is the link between Nutri-Score and product reformulation?

Nestlé has started its reformulation journey 20 years ago and has already made significant progress in making its products healthier. Nutri-Score now offers a clear standard that helps move even faster. For example, 16% of Nestlé breakfast cereals in France scored 'A' or 'B' in 2019. The ambition is that more than 50% of Nestlé breakfast cereals in France are 'A' or 'B' by end of 2021.

Where will Nestlé implement Nutri-Score?

Nutri-Score will be implemented on brands from Nestlé’s wholly-owned businesses in continental Europe, where it is permitted. Products displaying this intuitive system are now on shelves in eight countries in Europe: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland. Our breakfast cereals joint venture Cereal Partners Worldwide (CPW) is also implementing Nutri-Score on its product packaging in the same countries. Nestlé and CPW stand ready to roll out Nutri-Score in further countries upon their request or notification to the European Commission.

What is the timeline for implementation of Nutri-Score?

Nutri-Score already appears on several Nestlé brands, including Garden Gourmet plant-based products, Nesquik chocolate-flavored milk, Nestlé Dessert Chocolate, Maggi culinary products, and breakfast cereals such as Nestlé Fitness and Chocapic. Our plan is to implement Nutri-Score labels on around 7500 products by 2022.

Will you only implement Nutri-Score on products with the best scoring?

No. The Nutri-Score implementation will be done in a consistent way across Nestlé's wholly-owned businesses and CPW product packaging regardless of the score of the product. It is a matter of transparency with consumers.