foodwatch criticises Danone's decision to withdraw from Nutri-Score
consumer organisation calls for EU wide mandatory Front-of-Pack-Labelling
foodwatch has strongly criticised Danone's announcement that it would no longer use Nutri-Score on some of its products. The decision by the major food manufacturer shows very clearly that the nutritional traffic light must be made mandatory for all companies in Europe, demanded the international consumer organisation.
foodwatch received confirmation via email that Danone in France “decided to gradually withdraw the Nutri-Score from our dairy and plant-based drinkable products from September 2024”; a company spokesperson confirmed to foodwatch that this a European wide decision. The company’s move follows a revision of the Nutri-Score algorithm last year, in which, for example, the sugar content in milk and yogurt drinks is assessed more strictly. As a result, some Danone products now score worse than before.
“Danone’s U-turn on the Nutri-Score ignores consumers' desire for clear nutritional information on packaging. It is unacceptable that Danone should decide to backtrack on the Nutri-Score because the products of some of its brands would score less well” said Suzy Sumner, Head of Brussels Office for foodwatch.
The international consumer organisation called on the new Commission to take the step and propose a mandatory, harmonised Nutri-Score across the whole EU. This week the conclusions of the EU strategic dialogue on agriculture also underlined the importance of “trustworthy, comprehensive, EU-wide, science-based, comparable and transparent food-labelling […] that allows for informed choices.” foodwatch’s Suzy Sumner commented: ”The need for improved food labelling is urgent – without a mandatory Nutri-Score across all EU countries and all food products, companies are able to pick and choose if they want to inform consumers or not. The Nutri-Score is designed to help consumers make clearer choices: why deprive them of this information if not to preserve their brand image at the expense of health?”
Following a revision of the Nutri-Score algorithm last year, according to which the sugar content in mixed milk drinks, for example, is assessed more strictly, some of Danone's products now score worse than before. According to BFM business, Danone is contesting the new algorithm and the rating given to some of its products. foodwatch however points out that the algorithm was validated by a committee of independent scientists in charge of updating it, with the sole aim of providing clearer and fairer information to consumers.
Nutri-Score is an independent nutritional logo, developed on a scientific basis and widely used by consumers. The aim of updating the Nutri-Score algorithm is to improve its effectiveness, taking into account advances in scientific knowledge about nutrition, product developments in supermarkets and the actual use of the logo by consumers on the shelves. In short, the aim of revising the algorithm is to achieve a better classification of foods, in line with nutritional health recommendations.
foodwatch launched a petition at foodwatch France to ask Danone to stop this planned U-turn and to commit fully to the label which is supported by 94% of consumers in France.