NUTRI-SCORE: A Nutritional Guide to Promote Healthy Eating, a Key Factor in Good Health

Diet is a major public health issue, serving as either a protective factor for health or, conversely, a risk factor for the leading diseases affecting the French population (cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, various cancers, obesity). The nutrition program at Santé publique France primarily contributes to the implementation of the National Nutrition and Health Program (PNNS), which aims to improve the health of the entire population by addressing one of its key determinants: nutrition. In this regard, the agency, which promotes nutritional guidelines, has created the "mangerbouger" website and "La Fabrique à menus," enabling everyone to incorporate the PNNS recommendations into their daily lives. The agency is also developing numerous initiatives to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary lifestyles among the French population, particularly among young people. Today, as part of its missions, Santé publique France is contributing to the implementation of nutritional labeling.

At the request of the Directorate General for Health, the agency created the NUTRI-SCORE brand and logo, drawing on the work of Professor Serge Hercberg’s team (University of Paris 13) and the expertise of ANSES and the High Council for Public Health. This project was evaluated in an innovative and complex study, alongside three other nutritional labeling systems, under real-world purchasing conditions in late 2016. NUTRI-SCORE demonstrated its effectiveness and superiority in improving consumers’ understanding of nutritional information on packaging and the nutritional quality of their shopping baskets.

NUTRI-SCORE: a logo to inform and guide consumers in a simple and accessible way

NUTRI-SCORE is a logo that provides simplified nutritional information to complement the mandatory nutritional labeling required by European regulations. It uses a color-coded system that classifies products into five categories, from A to E, to maximize accessibility and consumer understanding. The category to which the food belongs is highlighted on the logo with a larger letter. With a few exceptions (herbs, teas, coffees, etc.), all processed products are covered. It may also be displayed on beverages, except for alcoholic ones.

Creation of a dedicated section to promote and easily access NUTRI-SCORE

Santé publique France is now launching a dedicated online space to provide comprehensive information on the procedures and rules for displaying the logo. How can you obtain it? What are the rules for using the graphic guidelines? What is the procedure for participating in the program? A dedicated section on its website allows food industry professionals to learn more and apply for the right to use the NUTRI-SCORE trademark via an online registration form: /Sante-publique-France/Nutri-Score

The trademark and its usage regulations have been filed with French and European intellectual property authorities (INPI and EUIPO), thereby allowing for use not only in France but also throughout Europe. In addition to promoting the system and providing support to consumers and food industry professionals, Santé publique France will assess the impact of the labeling on consumers, in collaboration with the nutrition section of the Food Quality Observatory (Oqali), established by INRA and ANSES, which is responsible for monitoring changes in the nutritional quality of foods.