Food conglomerate Danone has recently removed the Nutri-Score from certain products which had been downgraded on the food index – a move that consumer organisations Testachats and Foodwatch have strongly criticised.
Introduced in 2017, the Nutri-Score utilises a simple colour code – from green to red – and letters from A to E. These guide consumers towards healthier products and encourage manufacturers to improve their recipes. But although Danone was quick to adopt this system it now has dropped the guide from its products after the Nutri-Score’s scientific committee revised the calculation method a few months ago. This led to several beverages made by Danone having less positive ratings.
Branded drinks such as Actimel, Activia, Alpro, Danette, Danio, Danonino, and HiPRO no longer display the Nutri-Score. Danone has argued there are “significant inconsistencies” in how the index is calculated. It says that foods with similar nutritional compositions may have different Nutri-Scores, depending on whether they are classified as a beverage or potted product. The company disputes the “revision of the algorithm that categorises dairy and plant-based drinks as beverages, comparing them to sodas”.
However consumer rights organisation Testachats has criticised Danone’s decision and questions the logic in retaining the Nutri-Score on its ‘solid’ yoghurts but removing it on liquid versions from the same range. They intend to highlight the attention of the Public Health Office.
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Testachats maintains that the Nutri-Score is a useful instrument that is “supported by healthcare professionals, academics and consumer associations across Europe”. A Testachats spokesperson advocated for a mandatory, Europe-wide adoption of the Nutri-Score to prevent other companies from abandoning it should it no longer serve their interests.
Foodwatch, another consumer advocate group, criticises Danone’s withholding this information from consumers, which they believe is aimed at preserving their brand image at the expense of consumer health. It says that Danone is failing to prioritise consumer health.
According to them, updates to the Nutri-Score calculation method is aimed at enhancing its effectiveness. This includes considering advancements in nutritional knowledge, changes in supermarket products, and the actual use of the logo by consumers on store shelves.
