Nutri-Score: The Complete Guide

If you live in France, or you’re visiting a country like Belgium, Germany, or Spain, you might have come across a food label that looks a bit unusual: a colored letter ranging from A (green) to E (red) right on the front of the package.

At first glance, it’s easy to wonder what it actually means. Another European regulation? A food safety warning? Some kind of nutritional score? Well… yes, sort of. It’s called the Nutri-Score.

Nutri-Score is a labeling system that helps shoppers understand the nutritional quality of food products at a glance. It’s been officially adopted in several european countries, and it’s becoming more and more common on supermarket shelves.

So whether you're an expat trying to decode your groceries, a tourist just looking for something decent to eat, or even a local who’s never really paid attention to the label, this article will explain what Nutri-Score is, where it’s used, and how those letters are actually decided.

What is Nutri-Score?

Nutri-Score is a front-of-pack (FOP) nutrition label designed to simplify complex nutritional information and help consumers make healthier choices at a glance. It assigns packaged foods and beverages a letter grade from A (dark green, most favorable) to E (dark orange, least favorable).

For example, a green “A” indicates higher nutritional quality, while a red “E” signals lower quality. The Nutri-Score is calculated per 100g (or 100mL) of product by assigning points to nutrients to limit (calories, sugar, saturated fat, salt) and nutrients to encourage (fiber, protein, fruit/vegetables). A product rated “A” is relatively richer in beneficial nutrients and lower in harmful ones than a product rated “E,” although even “A” foods should be eaten in moderation.

The Nutri-Score label uses a clear five-color scale (A–E) to communicate overall nutritional quality. This user-friendly label was developed to guide consumers toward healthier choices and ultimately help prevent diet-related chronic diseases. Under the Nutri-Score algorithm, each 100g (or 100mL) portion earns negative points for energy, total sugars, saturated fat and sodium, and positive points for fiber, protein and fruit/vegetable/legume/nut content.

The final Nutri-Score grade is determined by subtracting the positive points from the negative points (an adapted version of the UK FSA nutrient profiling model). In practice, this means a food with many nutrients to encourage will get a better (greener) rating than one with high calories, sugar, fat or salt. The color-coded A–E code lets shoppers quickly compare similar items – for example, a breakfast cereal rated “A” can be identified at a glance as healthier than a cereal rated “E”.

Who Decides Nutri-Score Ratings? How It Works and How Companies Get Them

• Developed by health authorities (voluntary use):  Nutri-Score was created by public health experts in France at the request of the Health Ministry, but it is not mandatory by law. Food producers can choose to put it on their products. In fact, Nutri-Score “can be affixed by producers on their products on a voluntary basis” santepubliquefrance.fr. No EU regulation forces companies to use it yet, though many governments encourage it as a public health measure.

• Calculation by producers:  There is no separate government lab assigning scores. Instead, food manufacturers or brand owners compute the Nutri-Score themselves using a published algorithm. The system assigns positive or negative points based on the product’s nutritional content per 100g (or 100mL) – for example, fiber, protein, fruit/vegetable content give positive points, while calories, sugar, salt and saturated fat give negative. Producers use the product’s Nutrition Facts (required by EU law) as inputs. To get the score, they typically use official Nutri-Score calculators or software (provided by public health agencies) that implement the algorithms.

• Brand registration (no approval delay):  Before using the Nutri-Score logo, a company must register its brand with the Nutri-Score authorities (e.g. Santé publique France or equivalent bodies in each country). This registration is free and purely procedural – it collects the company’s details and product categories, and secures their commitment to the Nutri-Score. Importantly, no additional “approval” of each score is needed: once registered, the company immediately receives a confirmation and can put Nutri-Score on in its packaging, the company agrees to apply Nutri-Score consistently across all products of that brand.

• Transparency and accuracy:  Because the Nutri-Score formula is publicly documented, anyone (including independent labs or even consumers) can recalculate a product’s score and verify it. The algorithm has been scientifically validated by food safety agencies (for example, France’s ANSES) and is overseen by a transnational scientific committee. In practice, this means the label is backed by research. For instance, studies of large European cohorts have shown that products with better Nutri-Scores (more greens) tend to align with healthier diet patterns and outcomes. Authorities also enforce truth-in-labeling: since the Nutri-Score is tied to the mandatory nutrition facts, companies risk penalties if they report false nutritional data. All this transparency and oversight gives consumers confidence that the color-coded grade is calculated accurately and consistently.

Why Was Nutri-Score Created?

The Nutri-Score system was introduced in France in 2017 against a backdrop of rising obesity and nutrition-related chronic diseases (such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and some cancers). Public health authorities recognized that the standard nutrition facts panel was often too complex for quick decisions. French law (2016 Health System Modernization Act, article 14) explicitly called for a simple front-of-pack label to encourage healthier eating and curb chronic illness. Nutri-Score was chosen after extensive expert review as the labeling scheme to implement. In effect, it translates detailed nutrient information into a single color-coded indicator to nudge consumers toward better choices and to motivate the food industry to reformulate products (by reducing sugar, salt or saturated fat).

By turning complex data into an easy symbol, Nutri-Score aims to make healthy diet choices more intuitive. As one WHO-backed evidence summary notes, Nutri-Score “was developed to help guide consumers towards healthier food choices and thus prevent a wide range of nutrition-related chronic diseases”. In short, the label’s goal is to help consumers compare foods quickly and select items that fit national dietary guidelines, thereby reducing risks of obesity, heart disease and other diet-driven conditions.

Origin and European Expansion

Nutri-Score originated in France under the auspices of Santé publique France. It is based on the French-modified Food Standards Agency Nutrient Profiling System (FSAm-NPS) and was piloted using French health surveys. Early cohort analyses in France and Spain showed that diets richer in A/B-graded foods (i.e. low FSAm-NPS) were associated with less weight gain, lower rates of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease, and even reduced mortality. These positive results and France’s public health interest helped fuel international attention.

By 2021, several other European countries had announced plans to adopt Nutri-Score. As of 2024, Nutri-Score is used (on a voluntary basis) by at least eight countries: France, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, and Portugal. In mid-2025 Romania also approved Nutri-Score rules for voluntary use. In each adopting country, display of Nutri-Score is optional for manufacturers, although some rules require a brand to use it consistently on all products once they opt in. For example, Romania’s regulation mandates that if a company uses Nutri-Score on any one product, it must apply it to all items of that brand within 1–3 years. By late 2024, roughly 1,400 French companies and retailers (covering about half of packaged-food sales) were voluntarily using Nutri-Score labels.

Not all EU countries have embraced Nutri-Score. Italy has rejected it, arguing that the formula unfairly downgrades key Mediterranean foods; instead, Italy promotes an alternative “NutrInform Battery” label. Governments in Greece, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Hungary and others have echoed Italy’s concerns, saying Nutri-Score parameters can penalize traditional products like cheeses or olive oil. (In response to such debate, Spain “exempted” olive oil producers from having to display Nutri-Score, and in 2020 the algorithm was revised to give olive oil more favorable points.) The European Commission itself has proposed a harmonized EU FOP label (as part of the “Farm to Fork” strategy), but the rollout has been delayed. In early 2025 news reports indicated the Commission would not force a mandatory Nutri-Score label – the system will remain voluntary unless each member state chooses otherwise.

How Nutri-Score Is Calculated

The Nutri-Score uses a point system to evaluate nutrients per 100g (or 100mL). In brief:

1. Collect nutrient data.  Determine the product’s content per 100g of energy (kJ), total sugars (g), saturated fat (g) and sodium (mg), plus fiber (g), protein (g), and the percentage of fruits/vegetables/legumes/nuts (and certain healthy oils).

2. Assign negative points.  For each 100g, award 0–10 points each for energy, sugar, saturated fat and sodium – more points for higher amounts. These are the “nutrients to limit.”

3. Assign positive points.  Award 0–5 points each for fiber, protein and fruit/vegetable/legume/nut percentage – more points for larger content. These are the “nutrients to encourage.”

4. Compute the score.  Subtract the total positive points from the total negative points to get the FSAm-NPS score (ranging roughly from –15 for very healthy products up to +40 for poor-quality ones). .

5. Map to A–E.  Translate the numeric score into a letter grade: Foods scoring –15 to –1 get an A (dark green), 0–2 a B (light green), 3–10 a C (yellow), 11–18 a D (orange), and ≥19 an E (red). (Beverages and special categories like cheese have slightly different breakpoints.)

   
   

Several algorithm updates have fine-tuned these rules. In 2019, olive, rapeseed and walnut oils were added to the fruit/vegetable component, giving them positive credit. In 2022 the scoring was adjusted to better distinguish sweetened vs. unsweetened dairy, different cheeses, and to refine fiber/protein caps. In 2023 the beverage rules were tightened so that only water can earn an “A” (all other drinks now top out at B or lower). These changes aim to better align the label with nutrition science and public feedback.

Reliability: Benefits and Criticisms

Evidence of effectiveness: Nutri-Score is backed by substantial research. As noted above, higher Nutri-Score diets correlate with better health outcomes in cohort studies. An IARC/WHO evidence summary states that Nutri-Score is “the only front-of-pack nutrition label in Europe for which strong scientific evidence has demonstrated its effectiveness and its superiority to other existing labels”. Randomized or observational studies generally find that Nutri-Score helps consumers identify healthier products and can improve shopping baskets (e.g. reducing calories by a few percent). By turning nutrition data into a summary grade, it fills the evidence-based goal of guiding people to higher-quality diets.

Limitations: Critics point out that Nutri-Score focuses on a fixed set of nutrients and ignores others. For instance, it does not account for food processing, additives, vitamins or bioactive compounds.

A Polish expert survey noted that the algorithm “does not take into account the degree of processing of the product” and does not measure full nutritional value beyond its selected criteria. In practice, this can lead to anomalies: some ultra-processed snacks that contain fiber and protein may earn a reasonably good score (A or B), while natural products like cheese or olive oil – which are high in beneficial fats but also in saturated fat – end up with lower grades. Mediterranean countries have highlighted such issues. For example, Italy’s government and industry say Nutri-Score unfairly downgrades traditional foods like olive oil, cured meats and cheeses (even after algorithm tweaks).

Some researchers have also pointed out potential bias in the literature: one analysis found that studies with authors linked to industry were far more likely to report positive results for Nutri-Score than fully independent studies. In sum, Nutri-Score is a valuable tool among many, but it simplifies a complex picture. It should be used in conjunction with general dietary advice, not as a sole measure of healthiness. Consumers and policymakers must also be aware of its boundaries – notably, it says nothing about portion size, environmental impact, or micronutrients – and interpret it accordingly.

Impact on Food Companies

Nutri-Score has motivated changes in the food industry. In France, for example, brands that committed to Nutri-Score saw their sales volume market share rise sharply: one analysis found these brands covered about 50% of food sales by 2020, up from roughly 24% in 2018. Real-world shopping experiments (e.g. Allais et al., 2017) showed that displaying Nutri-Score led to a small but significant improvement in the nutritional quality of chosen products and a slight reduction in calories purchased.

The OECD notes that front-of-pack labeling in general spurs manufacturers to reformulate recipes – for example, lowering sugar, salt or saturated fat – in order to achieve a better grade. Indeed, many European food companies have quietly improved product formulations (e.g. added fiber or cut salt) since Nutri-Score was introduced, to avoid the lowest scores.

From a marketing standpoint, Nutri-Score has become a selling point for some companies and a concern for others. Many retailers and brands proudly display high Nutri-Scores on their healthier lines. For instance, nearly all major French supermarket chains encourage or require private-label products to show Nutri-Score if used on any products. On the flip side, some manufacturers have publicly rejected Nutri-Score when their products received unfavorable grades. Notably, in late 2024 Danone pulled Nutri-Score labels from certain drinkable yogurts and plant drinks after a formula change lowered their scores. Swiss Nestlé also announced it would drop the Nutri-Score label from some products in Switzerland. These moves underscore that Nutri-Score ratings can directly affect business and branding decisions.

Public Response and Consumer Behavior

Consumer surveys in countries using Nutri-Score show very high awareness and approval. In France, for example, awareness grew from 58% in 2018 to 93% by late 2020. A 2020 national survey found about 90% of French people recognized Nutri-Score and understood it was about nutritional quality. Roughly 94% of respondents said they supported the label being used (and would even back making it mandatory).

Many consumers report that Nutri-Score influences their choices. The same French survey found 57% of participants said they had changed at least one buying habit because of Nutri-Score (up from 43% in 2019). Shoppers often compare products: for instance, one might pick the item with a “B” over a similar item with a “D” rating. Controlled experiments confirm these trends: introducing Nutri-Score signage in a store led customers to select foods with higher overall nutritional scores. That said, the overall impact on diet depends on many factors. Nutri-Score seems to nudge incremental change (like swapping one product for another), but on its own it cannot fully transform eating habits without broader education and healthy-food availability.

Pros and Cons of Nutri-Score

Pros: Nutri-Score provides an at-a-glance summary of nutritional quality that even untrained consumers can grasp quickly. By using colors and letters, it cuts through confusing labels and helps people compare similar foods side by side. Public health experts widely consider it an effective tool: WHO and French health agencies support it as an evidence-based way to promote healthy diets. Its implementation is voluntary and transparent, which has encouraged many brands to improve recipes. Modeling studies project that, if widely adopted, Nutri-Score could prevent thousands of cases of chronic disease by shifting population diets higher in fruits, vegetables and fiber.

Cons: The main criticisms involve oversimplification and fairness. Because Nutri-Score focuses on nutrient content per 100g, it ignores important factors like the degree of processing, presence of additives, micronutrients, or actual portion sizes. Thus, some “unhealthy” but nutrient-rich traditional foods (like cheese or olive oil) end up with a worse score than some processed products that happen to have added fiber or protein. Critics also point out that labels like Nutri-Score do not capture everything about a food’s health impact and could mislead if viewed in isolation. Politically, opponents in countries like Italy see it as a threat to culinary heritage: Italian authorities have lobbied strongly against it, calling it discriminatory to the Mediterranean diet.

In short, Nutri-Score is a powerful public-health tool but not a perfect measure of “healthiness.” Its limitations mean it should be used alongside other nutrition education. Ethically, the debate contrasts consumer protection (via clear labeling) with concerns of cultural bias and industry lobbying.

The Future of Nutri-Score

Looking ahead, Nutri-Score’s trajectory depends on policy decisions and consumer trends. Some EU members and global health advocates continue to push for a single harmonized FOP label, often citing Nutri-Score’s strong evidence base. The European Commission had aimed to propose a unified label by 2022, but disagreements among countries postponed that action (possibly into the next legislative term). In early 2025 it was reported that the Commission would not mandate Nutri-Score specifically, opting to keep front-of-pack labeling voluntary.

Nevertheless, more food producers and retailers are expected to adopt Nutri-Score over time – especially if they export to countries where it is popular. Meanwhile, research on labelling continues. Experts suggest possible future tweaks, such as including whole grains or nuts as extra positive factors, to better reflect nutritional recommendations. Other countries are watching Nutri-Score’s example: Latin American and African nations are piloting various simplified labels (traffic lights, stars, or battery icons). The scientific community generally agrees that interpretive front-of-pack labels are valuable. Whether Nutri-Score becomes the dominant model beyond Europe remains to be seen.

For now, Nutri-Score stands as the most widely endorsed, evidence-backed nutrition label in Europe. Its broader impact will depend on continued public acceptance, industry response, and potential future EU regulations. Importantly, any labeling system can only guide but not guarantee healthy eating; supporting policies and education are needed to realize the full benefits.