Nutri-Score
Also known as: Nutri-Score, Nutriscore, nutrition score, traffic light label, A to E label
A voluntary A to E colour scale on the front of the pack that rates nutritional quality per 100 g or 100 ml, introduced in France in 2017.
Nutri-Score is the row of five coloured squares, from dark green A to red E, on the front of a pack. It sums up the nutritional quality of a food per 100 g or 100 ml so that similar products can be compared on the shelf at a glance.
The scale was first introduced in France in 2017, based on work by Professor Serge Hercberg's team and advice from the French agencies ANSES and HCSP. Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and Luxembourg later recommended it. There is no EU law on Nutri-Score: the label is voluntary, but a producer who uses it must register and apply the common calculation rules.
The score has two sides. Points against come from energy, sugars, saturated fat and salt; points in favour from fibre, protein, fruit, vegetables and pulses. The total is turned into a letter. In 2023 a European scientific committee updated the algorithm to bring it closer to national dietary advice, and France has been phasing in the new calculation since March 2025.
Across the themes of this site the scale behaves predictably. Dry pasta usually scores A, being low in fat and salt. Aged cheeses and cured sausages often get D or E because of salt and saturated fat, even with a PDO seal. Olive oil moved up relative to other fats after the update.
In countries where the state does not recommend it, the label is less common. Italy, for instance, promotes its own NutrInform Battery, which shows a share of daily intake instead of a letter.
What Nutri-Score does not tell you: whether a food is organic, PDO-protected or full of additives. It compares products within a group, not cheese with pasta.
Why it matters to you: Nutri-Score is handy for choosing between two packs of muesli or two cheeses. For your daily diet the amount matters too: 30 g of a D-rated Parmesan on a plate of pasta changes little.
Facts
| Mandatory status | voluntary, no single EU rule |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | voluntary scheme; France since 2017; updated algorithm 2023 (in France from March 2025) |
How it connects to Food labels & standards
Nutri-Score → kind of → 🏷️ How to read a food label
Links
- Part of
- 🏷️ How to read a food label, Nutrition and additives on the label
- Similar and different
- Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on food information to consumers
Frequently asked questions
What do the letters A to E in Nutri-Score mean?
A rating of nutritional quality per 100 g or 100 ml: A is the best in its group, E the weakest. It counts energy, sugars, saturated fat and salt against fibre, protein, fruit, vegetables and pulses.
Is Nutri-Score compulsory in the EU?
No, it is voluntary. France, Belgium, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Switzerland recommend it; there is no common EU law.
Why do I rarely see Nutri-Score in the UK?
The UK uses its own front-of-pack traffic light scheme, so Nutri-Score appears mainly on imports from France, Belgium, Germany or Spain.
Why do Parmesan and Jamón get a D or E?
Because of salt and saturated fat per 100 g. The scale ignores that they are eaten in small amounts and does not assess PDO status or production method.
Is it true that an A-rated food can be eaten without limit?
No. A only means a better profile than similar foods per 100 g; portion size and the rest of your diet matter just as much.
Similar
E numbers (food additives) · Best before and use by dates · The 14 EU allergens · Traditional speciality guaranteed (TSG) · Organic food (EU organic logo) · Natural on food labels