Nestlé and stakeholders urge to make Nutri-Score mandatory in EU

Swiss multinational food and drink processing conglomerate Nestlé, along with other stakeholders (coalition), are asking to make Nutri-Score mandatory in the EU.

Nutri-Score is a colour-coded system that categorises food and drinks according to its nutritional profile.

It gives a score ranging from A from to E. A represents a healthier choice while E represents a less healthy choice.

The coalition includes consumer organisations, academics, Members of European Parliament (MEP) and food industry players.

Nestlé and the coalition have jointly written to the European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides asking Nutri-Score be made the mandatory front-of-pack nutrition labelling system.

Nutri-Score is currently being implemented on a voluntary basis.

Nestlé Europe, Middle East and North Africa (MENA) CEO Marco Settembri said: “Nutri-Score helps people make good food choices and motivates food and drink companies to accelerate the development of healthier products.

“Nutri-Score shouldn’t only help Nestlé to raise the bar. We’re inviting the whole industry to join us.”

Last year, Nestlé announced that it will be implementing Nutri-Score on its products in several European countries, including Austria, Belgium, France, Germany and Switzerland.

Some of the Nestlé products that will feature Nutri-Score include NAT, Chocapic Bio and Nesquik Alphabet breakfast cereals, Menier chocolate, Buitoni and Wagner pizzas, and Garden Gourmet plant-based products.

By the end of this year, the company is also planning to extend Nutri-Score to other brands such as Cheerios and Fitness breakfast cereals, Nescafé and Nestlé Dessert.