For consumers in the supermarket it is difficult to see which food contains more or less sugar, fat and the like. There is a simple system for this, the so-called food traffic light or Nutri-Score.
It took a while before Federal Food Minister Julia Klöckner for the colored Nutri-Score logo as clearer labeling of sugar, fat and salt in many foods. But now the Federal Cabinet has passed a regulation to introduce the voluntary “Nutri-Score” labeling. The ordinance should come into force in November 2020 at the latest. With the help of the nutritional traffic light from the green A to the red E, consumers should be able to see at first glance whether the food in question contributes to a healthy diet or not.
But how exactly is the Nutri-Score calculated? And what are the advantages and disadvantages of the food traffic light? Actually, a look at the list of ingredients and the nutritional table of a food should help. Unfortunately, because of the many technical terms, these are difficult to understand for many people. “There are around 70 different terms for sugar alone,” explains nutritionist Nora Rieder. This makes it more difficult for consumers to recognize whether it is actually a recommendable or a less healthy product. “In addition, many consumers are unsure whether 15 grams of sugar per 100 grams of fruit yoghurt is a lot or a little”, Rieder continues.
Easy comparison of different products
To change this, the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) had around 1,600 consumers choose between four nutritional labels as part of a study in the summer of 2019. 90 percent of those questioned voted for the Nutri-Score. It was predominantly rated as “quick and intuitively understandable”. 85 percent of those questioned said that he was “good at comparing different products”.
However, according to the Minister of Food Julia Klöckner (CDU), a mandatory national introduction of the food traffic light is not possible under current EU law. This means that the use of the Nutri-Score is voluntary and it is up to the food manufacturers whether they label their food with the Nutri-Score or not. However, Klöckner announced that it would work towards a Europe-wide introduction during the German EU Council Presidency.
However, the Nutri-Score is not intended to replace the nutritional table on the back of the products. Rather, it is intended as additional information. Whether a food is classified into category A, B, C, D or E depends on the following nutrients:
A high content of ingredients, of which we should consume little every day, is rated as negative (-), because they provide a lot of energy, but hardly any or no nutrients. These include
- Zucker
- salt
- fat
- saturated fat
- Calories
On the other hand, a high content of ingredients that are recommended for a healthy diet is rated positively (+). This includes
- Fiber
- protein
- vegetables
- fruit
- nuts
A total score is then calculated from the plus and minus points by subtracting the positive points from the negative and converting the result into the Nutri-Score table. Thus, the classification into categories A, B, C, D or E reflects the nutritional composition, which is either good (A or B), neutral (C) or bad (D or E). “Consumers in the supermarket or discount store can thus see directly which foods they eat a lot and which they should rather avoid,” explains nutrition expert Nora Rieder.
The advantages
The traffic light system can help to recognize sugar bombs at first sight, to avoid them accordingly and thus to eat healthier in the long term. This can prevent obesity and the associated diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes and disorders of the lipid metabolism.
The Nutri-Score also makes it easier to compare similar products from different manufacturers. This makes it easier for consumers to see which biscuit or which yogurt is healthier. “At best, the Nutri-Score leads food manufacturers to rethink their recipe and reduce the content of ingredients rated as bad in favor of healthier ingredients,” explains the nutrition expert.
The disadvantages
But there are also disadvantages: The content of vitamins, minerals and unsaturated fatty acids is hardly taken into account when calculating the Nutri-Score. The North Rhine-Westphalia consumer center also criticizes the fact that the calculation of the Nutri-Score from the evaluation of each individual ingredient can still contain too much sugar or fat. This is because bad values in some areas can be offset by good values in others.
In addition, the consumer advice center North Rhine-Westphalia points out that the Nutri-Score on products that consist of only one ingredient (such as olive oil or fruit juice) does not make sense. “This can lead to olive oil, for example, being classified in Category D due to its high fat content,” explains Rieder. The vegetable oil consists of many monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, which – in moderation – are definitely positive.
Therefore, the Nutri-Score is particularly suitable for heavily processed and complex foods. “Here the Nutri-Score can actually make a good contribution to a healthier lifestyle,” summarizes Rieder.
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