Established as an essential tool to help consumers choose the best products for their health, it has attracted criticism from many nutrition specialists. And more and more. So, should we trust the Nutri-score? Our answers.
While shopping at the supermarket, you have undoubtedly noticed a logo with several colors, and an alphabetical letter from A to E affixed to almost all packaging. Nutri-score, that’s its name, was born in 2017 in France. Its goal ? Facilitate the deciphering of the nutritional information of a food product.
Based on scientific expert work, it offers a scale of 5 colors: from dark green to dark orange. Scale associated with letters going from A to E. The “verdict” is awarded on the basis of a score taking into account for 100 gr or 100 ml of product, the content of nutrients and foods to favor: fiber, proteins, fruits , vegetables, legumes, nuts, rapeseed, walnut and olive oil. As well as nutrients to limit: saturated fatty acids, sugars, salt. After calculation, the score obtained by a product allows it to be assigned a letter from A to E and a color. A is a good grade and E is the worst.
Not all calories are equal
This labeling was introduced to simplify consumer information and preserve their health by choosing the “right” foods. Except that its interest and reliability are increasingly called into question. Several criticisms have been leveled at him. First, not all calories are equal. “ Two foods of identical composition do not necessarily have the same effect on health. In fact, their matrix, that is to say their physical structure, does not act on the organism in the same way. Their chewing time, the speed of release of nutrients among other things can differ for the same food. For example, whole or powdered almonds will not have the same effect on the body even though they have the same composition. The problem is then not the amount of fat or fiber, but the structure of the food. The essential question is rather whether it is minimally processed or ultra-processed? » explains Anthony Fardet, researcher in preventive nutrition.
Food processing is not taken into account by the nutriscore
Another criticism cited is that the Nutri-score takes into account total fats and sugars whereasonly the additions should be considered. “ When a cheese is rated D or E, it means that it is a bad grade. But cheeses are fermented foods simply transformed with natural, not added, fat. Consumed in reasonable quantities, they pose no health problems. » adds the expert.
Another aspect of the Nutri-score raises questions. Basically, one of the objectives linked to its implementation was to stop or eradicate obesity. “ However, obesity cannot be fought with an approach that rates foods on the basis of a few components, but through a global and qualitative approach to our diet. Obesity having multifactorial causes, we must also include physical activity, take into account the environment, genetics, or many other factors such as endocrine disruptors for example. » specifies Anthony Fardet.
A healthy food is the least processed food It is not possible to have a nutritionally balanced food since this does not exist (apart from breast milk). However, the Nutri-score can award good grades (the letter A) to ultra-processed products. “ A 0% fat fruit yogurt contains a lot of ultra-transformation markers… it has undergone significant transformations, and yet it is rated A! Gold studies converge to affirm that ultra-processed products have a proven link with the increase in the prevalence of many chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, obesity or certain cancers » laments the scientist. Something to think about before filling your shopping cart with A-rated products.