Nutri-Score Identified as Most Effective Nutrition Label for Saudi Consumers, Study Finds
A recent study published in Frontiers in Public Health indicates that the Nutri-Score front-of-pack nutrition labeling system is the most effective at helping Saudi consumers understand and select healthier food options. researchersโ conducted a trial comparing Nutri-Score’s performance against other labeling formats, including Guideline Daily Amounts (GDA).
The study revealed โฃthat participants utilizing the Nutri-score system wereโข nearly โขsix times more likelyโ to accuratelyโฃ rank food products based on their healthiness compared to those presented with no labeling at all. Conversely, GDA – characterized as the most information-dense format -โข demonstrated the weakest performance in aiding comprehension.
Beyond overall effectiveness, the research highlighted the influence of demographic factors.Individuals โwith higher levels of education and those already maintaining a healthier diet showed greater improvementsโ in food choices when presented with labels. โHowever, younger participants and those with lower incomes benefited less, suggesting existing disparities in nutritional understanding.
A notable awareness gap was also identified,โค with 22% ofโข participants reporting no prior knowledge of food labels and one-third lacking awareness of recommended daily calorie intake. This finding underscores the need for extensive educational โinitiatives alongside any labeling policy implementation โto ensure consumers can effectively interpret and utilize the provided information.
based on these results, the researchers recommend that Saudi policymakers adopt Nutri-Score โขas a national standard. Its demonstrated success in the trial, coupled with positiveโ outcomes in countries like France, Germany, and Belgium, positions it as a strong candidate for the Saudi โcontext. Implementing Nutri-Score could contribute to healthier food environments and potentially alleviate the long-term strain on the saudi healthcare system,โฃ especially given the nation’s existingโ publicโ health challenges.
The adoption of Nutri-score is also โexpected to encourageโ product reformulation by food manufacturers, who may adjust recipes toโค achieve more favorable scores and improve theโข nutritional profile of their products.
For industry stakeholders, aโ shift to Nutri-Score presents bothโ opportunities and challenges. Manufacturers may need to invest in reformulation or emphasize beneficial ingredients like fiber and protein. Retailers could further โsupport the initiative through โฃstrategic shelf โplacement, in-store promotions, and โdigital marketing campaigns focused on higher-ratedโค products. The potential adoption of Nutri-Score in Saudi โArabia is anticipated to be closely monitored by industry representatives, as it could align the country with international best practices and potentially influence labeling policies in other gulfโ Cooperation Council (GCC) nations.
Source: Frontiers in Public Health -โค “Comparing the influence โขof front-of-pack nutrition labelsโค on Saudi consumers’ understandingโ and food selection” (https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1527531)
Authors: โ Alaa Ashraf AlQurashi, et al.
