On 4 November 2024, the National Assembly in Paris voted in favour of two amendments proposing to make the application of the Nutri-Score on food labels mandatory in France and to promote its display on advertising material. (1)
These amendments, included in the bill on the financing of social security in 2025, fully respond to the demands of civil society. Consumers, patients, doctors and researchers in the health sector (2,3).
1) France, chronic diseases and unbalanced diets
'The latest Health Insurance report reveals a worrying increase in chronic diseases [+4%/year, ed], with three main ones at the top: mental health, tumors and cardiovascular diseases', they report the reasons for the amendments under consideration.
'If these diseases have multiple causes, the second most involved factor remains a diet too rich in fat, salt, sugar and poor in fiber. Diet is responsible for approximately 30% of deaths due to cardiovascular disease.'
2) Nutri-Score, the nutritional labelling par excellence
Nutri score is a synthetic nutritional labeling system – created by Santé Publique France, Anses (National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety) and Haut Conseil de la Santé Publique – which includes a literal scale (from A to E) and a chromatic scale.
This system of nutritional labelling has been 'recommended by the French Ministry of Health, welcomed by the WHO, consumer organizations and health professionals. (4) And it has been acclaimed by the public, with 91% favorable feedback.'
3) National Assembly, green light for mandatory Nutri-Score
The National Assembly of Paris has approved at first reading the two amendments to the 'Projet de loi pour le financement de la sécurité sociale (PLFSS 2025), which provide for both the mandatory introduction of the NutriScore logo on labels and a tax incentive for their display in food advertising in France.
'Chronic diseases are increasing by 4% every year (…) and our [healthcare] system is in danger', said Cyrille Isaac-Sibille (Les Démocrates), author of the two amendments. 'The goal It is not asking the French to give up certain foods, but to inform them of the risks to their health and encourage them to adapt their consumption accordingly.
4) Majority in favour, some votes against
Mandatory labelling with the Nutri-Score system it was supported in particular by deputies from the socialist groups (Jérôme Guedj), 'La France insoumise' (Hadrien Clouet), 'Ecologiste et social' (Sabrina Sebaihi).
The reformulation of food products, to improve their nutritional profiles, is in fact one of the objectives that NutriScore has already demonstrated it can achieve, as revealed by the Yuka app which is based on it. (5)
'National Rally' (Joëlle Mélin) and 'Droite républicaine' (Thibault Bazin) fear instead the possible classification of local products with a Nutri-Score D or E score. Although specific studies demonstrate the opposite. (6)
5) Government in the balance
The Minister of Health Geneviève Darrieussecq declared herself in favour of the evolution of the Nutri-Score algorithm, in fact already updated in 2023 (7,8). And above all, to its harmonised application at EU level, as suggested in a recent report of the European Parliament. (9)
The French government However, she expressed herself against the amendments under consideration. The minister in fact stated that 'The Nutri-Score is an important element, but the current legislation cannot make it mandatory, since it is an issue already raised at European level'.
6) Possible solutions
The proposed approach could be slightly corrected by the National Assembly, to ensure its compliance with EU law. And so:
-introduce a specific tax (i.e. x% on the final price, in favour of the 'Caisse nationale de l'assurance maladie') on all pre-packaged food and drink products, in a variable amount according to their Nutriscore score;
-exempt from this tax (or reduce it, in the case of an E score) products whose labels and advertising (online and offline) voluntarily display the Nutri-Score logo.
It is therefore to apply to food labelling the same criterion already hypothesized to encourage the display of NutriScore in advertising. Reserving in any case the opportunity to tax products with the most unbalanced nutritional profiles, in line with WHO recommendations. (10)
Dario Dongo
Footnotes
(1) Maxence Cagni. Nutrition: You should always make the Nutri-Score statement obligatory. LCP Assemblée Nationale. 4.11.24 https://tinyurl.com/3w4uazdj
(2) Taxes on products not fasted in the PLFSS 2025 for a healthier and more durable food: to be consumed without moderation! France Assos Sante. 28.10.24 https://tinyurl.com/5n8ttmc7
(3) Dario Dongo. Nutriscore, the appeal of doctors and scientists in Paris. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 28.10.24
(4) Marta Strinati. EU public health, EUPHA, points to NutriScore as best option for FoPNL. FT (Food Times). 20.3.23/XNUMX/XNUMX
(5) Marta Strinati. Yuka stimulates food reformulation and works on eco-score. FT (Food Times). 16.8.22/XNUMX/XNUMX
(6) Dario Dongo. NutriScore, full marks to local products. And food quality improves. FT (Food Times). 14.4.23/XNUMX/XNUMX
(7) Dario Dongo. NutriScore, evolution of the algorithm on a scientific basis. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 1.8.22
(8) Dario Dongo. NutriScore, algorithm update for beverages. FT (Food Times). 25.4.23/XNUMX/XNUMX
(9) Dario Dongo. Obesity, challenges and opportunities. EU report. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 21.10.24
(10) Dario Dongo. Fiscal policies for balanced nutrition, WHO recommendations. FT (Food Times). 4.7.24/XNUMX/XNUMX
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
