Open Food Facts computes the New Nutri-Score on 3 million+ products!
We’re excited to announce the integration of the revised Nutri-Score formula across Open Food Facts. This significant update aligns the Open Food Facts experience with the latest scientific recommendations and empowers consumers with the knowledge they need to keep making informed food choices.
Nutri-Score: a powerful tool for healthy eating 🚥
The Nutri-Score is a scientifically validated front-of-pack label that provides a quick and easy way to assess the overall nutritional quality of a food product. It consists of a 5-colour scale, ranging from A (green) to E (red), accompanied by a letter indicating the level of nutrients that contribute positively or negatively to health. It’s been around as the “5 colour score” since 2015, and was adopted by Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Switzerland and recently Portugal.
In 2021, the Nutri-Score formula underwent a revision to address certain limitations and improve its overall accuracy. The 2024 update considered new scientific evidence and incorporated a broader range of nutrients to provide a more comprehensive assessment of a product’s nutritional profile.
What is changing in 2024?
“The Nutri-Score takes into account the table of nutritional values as well as certain ingredients. It takes into account the content of foods and nutrients to be encouraged (fibers, proteins, fruits, vegetables, pulses…) and elements to be limited (calories, sugars, salt…).”
In 2024, the elements taken into account in the calculation remain broadly the same, but the rules for calculating the score have been revised to enable consumers to compare products even better according to their nutritional quality. In the case of specific beverages, the presence of sweeteners is now taken into account to prevent manufacturers from using these additives in place of sugar to improve the score of their products.
💡 Diet sodas containing sweeteners will no longer be rated B, but C to E.
As a result, the rating of certain fatty fish and oils rich in good fats will improve, while that of other products that are still too sweet or too salty will deteriorate. It will also be easier to identify wholemeal products, rich in fibers, which will now score better than their refined equivalents. Finally, poultry will rank higher than red meat, whose consumption should be limited.
Many products will therefore see their scores change, with between 30% and 40% of products affected. It’s not the composition of the products that is changing, but the way in which their score is calculated.”
- Pauline Ducrot, expert in prevention & health promotion at Santé publique France (French public health agency)
Open Food Facts: at the forefront of Nutri-Score adoption
Open Food Facts has been a supporter of the Nutri-Score since its inception in 2014, and has played a crucial role in its widespread adoption across Europe. Since 2015, we have been displaying the Nutri-Score on our app & website, making it accessible to millions of users worldwide.
The new Nutri-Score formula has been integrated into all aspects of Open Food Facts, ensuring that all users have access to the most accurate and up-to-date information. This includes :
- The Open Food Facts website: You can find the Nutri-Score v2 on the product pages of our website, Open Food Facts.
- The official Open Food Facts mobile application: The Nutri-Score v2 is also available today on our mobile app, allowing you to scan products and see their nutritional scores on the go.
- The free Open Food Facts platform for food professionals: We have updated our Pro platform to include the Nutri-Score v2, enabling food manufacturers and retailers to get insights and improve the nutritional quality of their products.
- Our OpenData exports: The Nutri-Score v2 is also available in our data exports, allowing researchers, journalists and other stakeholders to access this new nutritional information.
- For the 300+ web and mobile applications based on Open Food Facts, we have provided new logos to use and tips for migration in this tutorial. Please direct any further questions to reuse@openfoodfacts.org
- If you cover this topic, we have a press kit about the Nutri-Score V2 and Open Food Facts. If you would like to be added to our press lists for early briefings, please contact us at presse@openfoodfacts.org
The “New Formula” banner
To clearly differentiate between products that have adopted the new Nutri-Score formula and those that are still using the old formula, participating public health authorities have introduced a blue banner with “New formula” written on it. This banner will initially appear on all products on Open Food Facts, as we are currently using the new formula for all products across our platform.
As producers transition to the new formula, their products will gain the blue banner (if they so choose), indicating that they are using the updated methodology. This will provide a clear visual cue to consumers in supermarkets, helping consumers identify which products have already adopted the new formula and which ones may still be using the old one, and ensuring that they are always making informed decisions based on the most up-to-date nutrition science.
Elevating nutritional transparency for producers
In addition to our public platform, the Open Food Facts Pro platform also integrates the new Nutri-Score formula. This allows producers to monitor their products’ Nutri-Score grades and get ready more quickly. For all products (including those that have received a lower new Nutri-Score), the Pro platform offers targeted reformulation suggestions based on the specific nutrients that contribute to the lower rating. These suggestions can help producers make informed decisions to improve their products’ nutritional standing.
By providing producers with access to the new Nutri-Score formula and reformulation guidance, Open Food Facts is empowering them to actively participate in enhancing the overall nutritional quality of their products. We hope this will continue to foster a culture of transparency and accountability, driving systemic positive change in the food industry.
You are a producer?!
Embrace the new Nutri-Score and leverage the Pro platform to improve their products’ nutritional profiles now 👋 💻 😊
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions: producers@openfoodfacts.org