On 17 April 2025, the Laboratoire Luxembourgeois de Contrôle Sanitaire (Luxembourg Health Inspection Laboratory) published a useful update on the application and favourable impact of Nutri-Score on public health among residents of the Grand Duchy.
Starting from the general concept and history of Nutri-Score as a tool for healthier food choices and the prevention of chronic diseases, the report delves into the unique aspects of its adoption, Luxembourg’s active role in its transnational governance, and specific data and observations regarding its influence on national public health.
Data on consumer behaviour, product reformulation, economic effects, and nutritional policies allow Luxembourg to be viewed as a case study on the tangible effects of Nutri-Score, highlighting its potential as a model for broader adoption in Europe and beyond.
Introduction to Nutri-Score
Nutri-Score has progressively established itself in Europe as a key tool for promoting healthier food choices (Andreani et al., 2025) and preventing chronic diseases associated with unbalanced diets (Deschasaux-Tanguy et al., 2024).
In Luxembourg, its adoption reflects the national commitment to this transnational initiative, aimed at improving nutritional transparency and public health in the country.
This nutritional labelling system, displayed on the front of food packaging, translates the nutritional quality of products into a simplified and accessible format, complementing the mandatory nutritional declaration established by the Food Information Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 (FIR).
How Nutri-Score appears
The Nutri-Score logo takes the form of a five-colour scale, from dark green (for products with better nutritional quality) to dark orange (for products with poorer nutritional quality), associated with letters A to E. This visual representation allows consumers to quickly identify the nutritional value of foods, facilitating more informed dietary choices.
Initially developed in France in 2017, based on the work of Professor Serge Hercberg and the expertise of the Agence Nationale de Sécurité Sanitaire (ANSES) and the Haut Conseil de la Santé Publique (HCSP), Nutri-Score was subsequently adopted in several European countries, including Luxembourg.
Nutri-Score in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
Luxembourg is among the countries that have officially adopted Nutri-Score, joining France, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands in this transnational initiative to improve consumer nutritional information.
The Grand Duchy actively participates in the transnational governance established around Nutri-Score, taking part in the Steering Committee that coordinates its implementation and dissemination in participating countries. This involvement reflects Luxembourg’s commitment to European nutritional policies.
In Luxembourg, the updated Nutri-Score algorithm has been in force since 5 March 2024, even before its adoption in France (16 March 2025). This responsiveness demonstrates the country’s dedication to applying the latest scientific recommendations on nutritional labelling.
Nutri-Score calculation methodology
The Nutri-Score rating for a food product is based on a precise calculation that considers several nutritional elements per 100 g or 100 ml of product:
- elements to favour. Fibre and protein content, proportion of fruit, vegetables, and pulses;
- elements to limit. Energy intake (kcal) and amounts of saturated fatty acids, sugars, and salt (High in Fats, Sugar and Sodium, HFSS foods);
- artificial sweeteners in beverages are also negatively considered.
After calculation using the established algorithm, each product is assigned a Nutri-Score rating determining its classification, from A (dark green) to E (dark orange).
The transnational governance of Nutri-Score
Luxembourg is part of a transnational Nutri-Score governance structure, established by the competent authorities of Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland. The system’s governance is structured around two committees and a forum:
- the Steering Committee held its first meeting on 25 January 2021 and coordinates the implementation and dissemination of Nutri-Score. It brings together representatives of national authorities responsible for implementing the system in each country. Its goal is to facilitate the use of Nutri-Score by food industries, particularly assisting small businesses and liaising with consumers, establishing common and effective procedures;
- the Scientific Committee held its first meeting on 12 February 2021 and consists of independent experts in nutrition and public health from the involved countries, with no conflicts of interest with the food industry. Its primary mission is to evaluate potential evolutions of Nutri-Score to enhance its effectiveness for consumer health, in line with dietary recommendations;
- the Users’ Forum, which held its first meeting in October 2024, brings together representatives of consumer associations and economic operators to discuss practical issues related to Nutri-Score implementation and benefit from their experience.
How to obtain the right to use Nutri-Score, in Luxembourg and beyond
Food industry operators and retailers wishing to use Nutri-Score on their products in Luxembourg, as in other countries, must complete a free official registration procedure for their respective brands on the dedicated international platform (https://tinyurl.com/5b2769bb).
The registration process includes:
- identification of the applicant and their business;
- details, for each brand, of the product segments concerned by logo use;
- commitment to use the logo for all products marketed under the registered brand(s);
the applicant’s commitment to comply with the Nutri-Score logo usage regulations.
Following registration, the files enabling logo use are sent to the operator via email. The logo can be used immediately upon receipt of the files, without waiting for further validation.
For any specific queries regarding the Luxembourg market, companies may directly contact the competent authorities at: nutriscore@alim.etat.lu.
The update of the Nutri-Score algorithm
The Nutri-Score Scientific Committee conducted an in-depth review of the original algorithm to improve its performance in line with the latest scientific evidence and national dietary recommendations.
The update process began in summer 2021 with a call for input from industry operators and consumer associations. The contributions received, after validation by the Steering Committee, were submitted for technical analysis by the Scientific Committee.
The proposed modifications, published in June 2022 for solid foods and February 2023 for beverages, aimed for greater alignment with updated dietary guidelines and addressing stakeholder feedback.
The Steering Committee formally approved the new algorithms: for solid foods on 26 July 2022, and for beverages on 30 March 2023.
The Impact of Nutri-Score on public health in Luxembourg
Since its introduction in Luxembourg, Nutri-Score has exerted a growing and measurable influence on the country’s public health. This positive impact manifests through several key aspects deserving in-depth analysis.
Improved food choices
A recent study by the Luxembourg Ministry of Health revealed that 68% of consumers consider Nutri-Score when making food purchases. More significantly, 42% of consumers reported changing their purchasing habits by favouring products with more favourable Nutri-Score ratings (A and B).
This behavioural shift is particularly evident in households with children, where Nutri-Score consultation reaches 74%, demonstrating the labelling’s effect on protecting the most vulnerable population groups.
Product reformulation
The introduction of Nutri-Score has also triggered significant product reformulation in Luxembourg — as seen previously in France (Ducrot et al., 2021) and other European countries (Steenbergen et al., 2024). Since 2023, over 215 local food products in the Grand Duchy have been reformulated with the explicit goal of improving their Nutri-Score.
Key changes included:
- reduced sugar content (–18% on average);
- reduced salt (–15% on average);
- reduced saturated fatty acids (–12% on average);
- increased fibre content (+9% on average).
This reformulation trend represents a tangible improvement in Luxembourg’s food environment, making it easier for citizens to follow a balanced diet, even when consuming processed products.
Positive economic implications
Contrary to initial fears from some producers, Nutri-Score adoption has generated positive economic effects. Luxembourg food companies that reformulated their products to achieve higher Nutri-Score ratings recorded a significant average sales increase of +7.3% compared to non-reformulated products.
This phenomenon demonstrates that nutritional transparency – also promoted by apps like Open Food Facts and Yuka in numerous countries – can act as a driver for innovation and competitiveness in the food sector, creating a virtuous cycle where consumer demand guides nutritional quality improvements in supply.
Reduction of health inequalities
A peculiar significant aspect of Nutri-Score’s impact in Luxembourg is its contribution to reducing health inequalities. Analysis of purchasing data across socioeconomic groups revealed that improvements in food choices were proportionally greater in low-income groups.
This effect is attributable to the simplicity and immediacy of the labelling system, which overcomes health literacy barriers and makes nutritional information accessible to all population segments. Nutri-Score thus emerges as a tool of health democracy, helping to narrow the gap in diet-related health disparities.
Educational and cultural impact
Beyond its immediate role in guiding purchasing decisions, Nutri-Score has had a profound educational impact on Luxembourg’s food culture. Its introduction in schools as a pedagogical tool has improved understanding of basic nutritional principles among young people.
A survey in primary schools revealed that 85% of pupils understand the Nutri-Score rating system, and 63% can correctly explain why some foods receive better ratings than others. This represents a long-term investment in the population’s nutritional education, yielding lasting public health benefits.
Integration of Nutri-Score into Health Policies
Nutri-Score in Luxembourg is part of a broader intervention strategy outlined in the National Nutrition Health Plan 2023–2030, which includes:
- school-based food education programs;
- public awareness campaigns on balanced diets.
- fiscal incentives for healthier food production.
guidelines for public sector food procurement.
Future prospects for Nutri-Score in Luxembourg
Luxembourg continues to lead in Nutri-Score implementation. The Ministry of Health has announced an ambitious ongoing monitoring program to assess the long-term impact of this labelling on public health.
Luxembourg authorities are also exploring innovative ways to extend Nutri-Score’s application, including:
- integration into digital food purchasing platforms;
- voluntary extension to collective catering menus.
These developments promise to further amplify Nutri-Score’s benefits for Luxembourg’s public health in the years ahead.
Interim conclusions
Nutri-Score represents significant progress for Luxembourg on both nutritional information and public health fronts. Initial measurable results – improved dietary habits, reduced health inequalities, and product reformulation – confirm that this investment in nutritional transparency is generating substantial public health benefits for the country.
This system – thanks to the immediacy of its message, based on nutritional profiles recognised as excellent even before their latest update (Poon et al., 2018) – undoubtedly constitutes the most effective Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labelling (FOPNL) model to counter the epidemic of the ‘triple burden of malnutrition’ and resulting non-communicable diseases (NCDs). As demonstrated by the robust scientific literature and support from both consumers and health professionals (e.g., European Public Health Alliance, EUPHA).
A call to the Luxembourg government, and the European Commission
The Luxembourg government should advocate for the European Commission to finally fulfil its duty to define a harmonised FOPNL scheme in the European Union, which can only be Nutri-Score, as it is:
- the only front-of-pack nutritional labelling system already successfully applied in 6 Member States—including 3 major countries (Germany, France, Spain).
- the FOPNL system that has garnered the broadest global scientific consensus and endorsement from public research institutions on nutrition and health (IARC, 2021; WHO, 2022; OECD, 2023).
The European Commission should have fulfilled this by 13 December 2017, based on a specific mandate from European legislators (Reg. EU 1169/11, Article 35). Its delay – already criticised by the European Court of Auditors (2024) has been the subject of an investigation revealing the prioritisation of junk food industry interests over public health. Yet it is European taxpayers who fund the lavish salaries of Brussels Commissioners and officials—and public healthcare. Enough is enough!
#Égalité, #NutriScore
Dario Dongo
Note
- Andreani, G., Sogari, G., Wongprawmas, R., Menozzi, D., & Mora, C. (2025). Nutri-Score and Eco-Score Labeling: A Systematic Review of Their Impact on Consumer Understanding, Attitudes, and Behaviors. Food Reviews International 1-25. https://doi.org/10.1080/87559129.2025.2460052
- Direction de la Sécurité Alimentaire. (n.d.). Le Nutri-Score en un coup d’œil. Gouvernement du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg. https://tinyurl.com/jvkpxndu
- Direction de la Sécurité Alimentaire. (2023, August). Feu vert pour le Nutri-Score dans les cantines scolaires. Gouvernement du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg. https://tinyurl.com/4nhk8y9y
- Ducrot, P., Méjean, C., Julia, C., Kesse-Guyot, E., Touvier, M., Fezeu, L., … & Hercberg, S. (2021). Impact of Nutri-Score on food reformulation: Evidence from France. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 75(3), 456–463. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-020-00752-9
- Elly Steenbergen, M Joline WJ Beulens, Elisabeth HM Temme. Nutri-Score in the European Food Retail Supply: A Potential Incentive for Food Reformulation? Nutrients 2024, 16(23), 4184; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16234184
- European Court of Auditors (ECA). Special Report 23/2024: food labeling in the EU. Consumers can get lost in the maze of labels. https://tinyurl.com/ykt2c3s5
- European Public Health Association (EUPHA). (2023, March 15). Statement on front-of-pack nutrition labelling in the European Union. https://tinyurl.com/3jvtr38k
- Gouvernement du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg. (2024, January 30). Règlement grand-ducal du 30 janvier 2024 relatif à la lutte contre le gaspillage alimentaire. Journal officiel du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg. https://tinyurl.com/3uc8df42
- International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). (2021). Nutri-Score: Harmonized and mandatory front-of-pack nutrition label urgently needed at the European Union level and beyond. https://tinyurl.com/bdenkkut
- Laboratoire Luxembourgeois de Contrôle Sanitaire, LLUCS. (2025, April 17). Le Nutri-Score. https://tinyurl.com/ydp7sd3k
- Ministère de la Protection des consommateurs, Luxemburg (2023, July 31). Monitoring der Nutzung des Nutri-Score Labels in Luxemburg. Gouvernement du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg. https://tinyurl.com/mttjp2r6
- Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). (2023). Obesity Prevention: The Role of Front-of-Pack Labelling. https://tinyurl.com/vcjsvse6
- Poon, T., Labonté, M.-È., Mulligan, C., Ahmed, M., Dickinson, K. M., & L’Abbé, M. R. (2018). Comparison of nutrient profiling models for assessing the nutritional quality of foods: a validation study. British Journal of Nutrition, 120(5), 567–582. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114518001575
- Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2011 on the provision of food information to consumers. Si veda l’articolo 35, paragrafi 5 e 6. https://tinyurl.com/393rhbfj
- World Health Organization (WHO). (2022). Nutrition labelling, policy brief. WHO, Geneva. https://tinyurl.com/25emusjy
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
