The presence of the NutriScore on food labels helps consumers to make healthy choices, that is, to favor the purchase of the most nutritionally balanced products. Further confirmation comes from the scientific study published on 19.2.20 in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. (1)
NutriScore, the colors of health
Nutriscore-as noted-is a synthetic nutritional information system that can be applied on a voluntary basis on the food label front. Each product is qualified with a color tone of the five, from green to orange, and the corresponding letter (A to E). Based on its nutritional properties.
The system is based on solid scientific literature and aspires to promote the improvement of the diet of the European population. In the face of an epidemic emergence of obesity, overweight, and related diseases occurring as early as early childhood. 1 in 3 minors in Italy, according to the latest Eurispes report.
The colors of health are on closer inspection all of them, none excluded. Since most foods can provide useful nutrients and micronutrients to make up a balanced diet. Within each product category, moreover, the color and letter can help choose the most suitable foods. And products with an orange code are those that should be consumed in less quantity and frequency.
NutriScore and junk food
The primary function of the NutriScore-like the traffic lights in the UK and other schemes applied in different countries (to the extreme of the
warning labels
Central American) – is to discourage the consumption of ultra-processed HFSS(High in Fats, Sugar and Sodium) foods.
In fact, junk food accounts for more than 68 percent of the products offered to children throughout Europe, is addictive, and sends the immune system into a tailspin. In addition to causing obesity, serious diseases and premature mortality from a variety of causes.
NutriScore and health choices, the scientific study
The scientific study conducted by the University of Nottingham(Division of Food, Nutrition and Dietetics, UK) our how seeing a color code on the front of the label (e.g. , Nutriscore, traffic-light) actually induces consumers to choose products with the most suitable nutritional profiles. The color closer to red, in particular, leads to favoring the choice of a different product.
The researchers conducted a test on 858 participants, subjecting them to:
– three alternatives of the same food product, with different traffic light label combinations (red, yellow, green), on
– three categories of food products( prepackagedsandwiches, breakfast cereals, cookies).
Participants were asked to select, in relation to each category, the products considered most preferable from a dietary perspective. And the orange-red color turned out to be even greater than the green color. As the choice to ‘avoid red’ was found to be more prevalent than the choice to ‘choose green’.
Sugar, fat, saturated fat and salt
The research on consumer perception was extended to the elements to which more attention should be paid for the purpose of purchasing food products more suitable for composing a balanced diet.
‘We wanted to find out whether it was fats, saturated fats, sugars or salt that consumers most want to avoid and to understand whether the traffic light label was influencing this decision,’ explains nutritionist Ola Anabtawi, who coordinated the research.
Sugar turned out to be the macronutrient considered most important by participants. (2) Foods high in sugar were in fact perceived to be the worst for health, while those excessive in fat, saturated fat and salt were of less concern. Although saturated fat and salt intakes, as highlighted by the international scientific community, should be controlled just as carefully. (3)
‘Despite the lack of knowledge of the criteria behind the NutriScore, participants’ decisions about the healthiness of food products were significantly influenced by its information about sugar content. Therefore, the NutriScore seems to direct consumers’ beliefs in the absence of adequate knowledge’ (Ola Anabtawi, Ph.D., coordinator of the study mentioned in footnote 1).
Interim conclusions
The research results show how the traffic light labeling system actually exerts an important influence on consumer choices. In the sense of directing them to choose more nutritionally balanced food products.
However, nutrition education still appears to be low, in the sample of participants subjected to the study as elsewhere. Therefore, priority attention must be given to this issue through appropriate public education and information campaigns. Starting with educational institutions, from whose plexuses junk food must be strictly banned, following the example of India.
Theadoption of the NutriScore system at the European level-overcoming the miscellany of similar schemes still in place in the various EU member states-may contribute to the mitigation of obesity, overweight and related diseases. Encouraging food consumption choices more in keeping with the nutritional needs of the European population, on the basis of which to articulate information campaigns that are all the more effective when shared at the macro-regional level.
Dario Dongo and Martina Novelli
Notes
(1) Anabtawi, O., Swift, J.A., Hemmings, S., Gertson, L. & Raaff, C. (2020). Perceived healthiness of food items and the traffic light front of pack nutrition labeling: choice-based conjoint analysis and cross-sectional survey. J Hum Nutr Diet. https://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.12741
(2) On the dangers associated with excess salt see previous articles https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/salute/troppo-sale-nella-dieta-causa-infarto-e-tumori-ecco-come-mettersi-al-sicuro, https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/salute/il-sale-favorisce-il-diabete , https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/salute/il-sale-nuoce, https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/salute/ecco-come-l-eccesso-di-sale-favorisce-demenza-e-alzheimer , https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/salute/troppo-sale-ai-bambini-sotto-accusa-pane-e-cereali
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
Graduated in International Relations at the Sapienza University of Rome, she followed the Master in Law & Foody Safety of the University of Bologna.
