1/4/2021 More than 270 European scientists call for EU-wide introduction of the Nutri-Score

NEWS | 17.03.2021

More than 270 European scientists call for EU-wide introduction of the
Nutri-Score

TRAFFIC LIGHT LABELS

273 renowned European scientists and 26 medical associations have called on the European Commission to
make the Nutri-Score mandatory in Europe. The experts from the scientific fields of nutrition, public health
and medicine warned against the efforts of the food lobby and some EU Member States to prevent the
mandatory labelling with the nutrition traffic light at European level. 

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1/4/2021 More than 270 European scientists call for EU-wide introduction of the Nutri-Score

The Nutri-Score is under fire: The manufacturers of unbalanced foods are trying to prevent the consumer-
friendly traffic light labelling with all their might. The EU Commission must prove that it takes the fight
against malnutrition seriously and makes the Nutri-Score mandatory throughout Europe.
– Luise Molling, Campaigner at foodwatch

Wide-ranging scienti c support

The European scientists and associations come from 31 different countries. Together they warn against the influence of
lobby interests on nutrition labelling. 

The Nutri-Score has repeatedly been the target of scientifically unfounded attacks with the intention of discrediting and
preventing the labelling. The signatories of the appeal stress out that the decision for a model should solely be made on a
scientific basis. In this respect, the Nutri-Score is more convincing than any other model: it is the only nutrition label in
Europe that has proven its effectiveness and relevance to consumers and public health in numerous peer-reviewed studies. 
 

Exemplary list of signatories

Alberti Corinne, Professor of Public Health, Université de Paris, France

Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region (ASPHER), Brussels, Belgium

Bischoff Stephan C, Professor of Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Chair of Nutritional Medicine, University of
Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany

Bo Simona, Associate Professor of Dietetic Sciences, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Torino, Italy

Bouzas C, Associate professor of Physiology, University of the Balearic Islands-IUNICS, IDISBA, & CIBEROBN
(ISCIII), Palma de Mallorca, Spain

Brázdová Zuzana Derflerová , Professor., Dept. of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno,
Czech Republic

Campbell Norah, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland

Chan Doris, Research Fellow, Imperial College London, United Kingdom

Dembiński Łukasz, Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Medical University of Warsaw,
Warsaw, Poland

And many more…

 

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1/4/2021 More than 270 European scientists call for EU-wide introduction of the Nutri-Score

We need a mandatory Nutri-Score in the EU

The governments of France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Luxembourg and the Netherlands have all decided in favour of the
nutrition traffic light. However, for now the labelling with Nutri-Score remains voluntary, because a legal obligation at
national level is not possible under European law. The EU Commission intends to propose a mandatory nutrition labelling
model by the end of 2022. foodwatch together with the scientists and associations calls for a mandatory introduction of the
Nutri-Score at EU level.

Originally developed by French scientists, the Nutri-Score’s assessment of food ingredients includes recommended
components such as dietary fibre and certain proteins in addition to the sugar, fat and salt content. Numerous scientific
studies have proven that the Nutri-Score is the most understandable form of nutrition labelling and that it fosters more
balanced food choices of consumers.
 

Sources and further information:

Call from European scientists to implement Nutri-Score in Europe

List of signatories

Eight Common Nutri-Score Myths Debunked 

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