For the time being, there will be no standardised logo for food selection based on nutritional value in the European Union. Several organisations had hoped for the Nutri-Score in this context. However, there was resistance to this from some southern European countries, partly because the results are unfavourable for their traditional products. According to Rabobank analysts, the non-binding nature of the use of the logo could lead to problems in terms of consistency, transparency and consumer acceptance.
As the Nutri-Score has already been voluntarily introduced by several European countries and adopted by a number of large supermarket chains, the logo is still very important. Supermarket groups can put pressure on their own-brand suppliers, but brand manufacturers are more difficult to motivate to adopt the Nutri-Score, especially if the result threatens to disappoint.
According to Rabobank, just under 40% of retailer brands in the EU achieve a green A or B label in the Nutri-Score. Of the A-brand suppliers that report a Nutri-Score, more than 65% fall below an A and B score. The fact that Danone – once a proponent of the Nutri-Score – has stopped mentioning the score on dairy products and plant-based drinks shows that the current non-binding nature of the regulations invites cherry-picking.
