French Government Approves Stricter Nutri-Score Nutrition Labeling

The updated Nutri-Score system aims to combat obesity and chronic diseases, while addressing concerns from food producers about its impact on traditional products.

The French government has officially approved the implementation of the revised Nutri-Score, a nutrition labeling system designed to better differentiate foods based on salt and sugar content.
The updated Nutri-Score algorithm has faced criticism for negatively impacting ratings of traditional French products like cheese and charcuterie, prompting concerns from the agriculture sector.
Health officials emphasize the importance of the Nutri-Score in addressing public health issues such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.
Businesses have two years to update product packaging to reflect the new labeling, which remains voluntary but is widely supported by major food and retail companies.
The government plans to monitor potential unintended consequences for French artisanal products and explore adjustments through European-level discussions.