Nutri-Score 2024: Brands resist, retailers persist

Danone, an early adopter and major advocate of Nutri-Score, recently made headlines by announcing it will remove the label from some of its products. The decision follows an update of the Nutri-Score algorithm that reclassifies dairy- and plant-based drinks as beverages rather than general food, applying stricter parameters. Danone’s partial exit adds to the controversy around the scheme and makes a compelling case for EU regulation on this matter. While the Farm to Fork Strategy calls for a compulsory front-of-pack nutrition label to help consumers make healthier choices, the EU has yet to implement a mandatory, harmonized label. Meanwhile, the controversy and divisiveness around Nutri-Score continues. Amid fierce resistance from some brands and countries, retailers are forging ahead with the scheme, expanding its coverage, and integrating it into healthy-food strategies.