Food labels: The truth about Nutri-Score
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The Nutri-Score is intended to help us make healthier nutritional decisions. But, is this really the truth? Nutritionist and study expert Uwe Knop questions the Nutri-Score and its contribution to healthier eating.
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This text comes from an expert from the FOCUS online EXPERTS Circle. Our experts have a high level of specialist knowledge in their subject area and are not part of the editorial team. Learn more.
How can Nutri-Score help promote healthier eating?
In the “nutrition apostolic” theory, the Nutri-Score is intended to enable “selection of the healthier alternative” by printing traffic light colors in five levels of green to red. However, that is just wishful thinking. The “marketing” of food packaging suggests a differentiation between “healthy and unhealthy” that actually does not exist – and in two respects: Firstly, “green” does not mean that these foods promote or protect health better than those with red dots Food, because there is no scientific evidence for this.
Secondly, a general division into “healthy and unhealthy foods” is not possible – all specialist nutritional institutions in D/A/CH agree on this (see the following box).
7 in one go – Nutritionists: No division into healthy and unhealthy foods!
Focus Online expert Uwe Knop already surveyed the seven major nutritional science organizations in the German-speaking DACH region in 2019 about the “division into healthy and unhealthy foods”. Regardless of each other, nutrition experts unanimously agreed in their opinion. Let yourself be surprised by the compilation of extremely unanimous statements from the German Society for Nutrition (DGE), the Swiss Society for Nutrition (SGE), the Austrian Society for Nutrition (ÖGE), the German Federal Center for Nutrition (BZfE), and the German Institute for Nutritional Research Potsdam-Rehbrücke (DIfE) as well as the two professional associations in Germany and Austria, the Association of Ecotrophologists (VDOE) and the Association of Nutritional Scientists in Austria (VEÖ):
“We don’t need rigid rules or classification into healthy or unhealthy foods. What matters is how much of what I eat.” Harald Seitz, Head of Public Relations Department, Federal Center for Nutrition (BZfE) (March 2019) “We find the general classification into healthy and unhealthy difficult. Because whether a food is ultimately healthy or unhealthy is determined by the amount consumed.” Sonja Schäche, Head of Press and Public Relations, German Institute for Nutritional Research Potsdam-Rehbrücke (DIfE) (March 2019) “There are no forbidden foods. The combination of foods in the right proportions makes for a balanced diet.”
Thomas Krienbühl, communications expert, Swiss Society for Nutrition SGE (March 2019) “Food should not be classified as “healthy” or “unhealthy”. The decisive factors for a balanced diet are the quantity, combination and preparation of food.” Mag. Alexandra Hofer, Managing Director, Austrian Society for Nutrition (ÖGE) (March 2019) “We don’t think it makes sense to divide foods into healthy and unhealthy foods. What matters is how much of what I eat.” Antje Gahl, Head of Public Relations Department, German Nutrition Society. V. (DGE) (March 2019) “To speak of ‘healthy’ or ‘unhealthy’ foods falls short when it comes to the complexity of nutrition. Populist recommendations for individual so-called ‘healthy’ foods or even bans on supposedly ‘unhealthy’ foods are more likely counterproductive and can lead to “consumer confusion.” Dr. Andrea Lambeck, Managing Director, Professional Association of Oecotrophology e. V. (VDOE) (May 2019) “The relationship between people and food is too complex to be able to derive a helpful classification into good and bad foods.” Mag. Andreas Schmölzer, 1st Chairman of the Board, Association of Nutritional Scientists in Austria (VEÖ) (May 2019)
So the Nutri-Score cannot help promote a healthier diet.
What are the innovations in food labeling and how do they influence consumer decisions?
From 2024, stricter guidelines for fiber, sugar and salt will apply. This is intended to “reassure” the health moralists who have repeatedly complained that the current levels were taken into account too laxly. Now manufacturers can get a greener point by incorporating more fiber and less sugar and salt into their foods. Apart from the fact that the “guardians of healthy nutritional ideologies” are happy, this has no relevant impact – especially not on the health of the citizens. It’s pure window dressing, a kowtow to the moralistic neo-Puritan zeitgeist.
About the expert
Uwe Knop, born in 1972, is a qualified nutritionist, author, and speaker for lectures at professional associations, companies and at medical training courses. His book “Successfully lose weight and stay slim” was published by Springer-Verlag.
Why is there criticism of the Nutri-Score and why is it claimed that there is no proof of benefit?
There are two main levels of criticism:
1. The division into healthy and unhealthy foods is neither scientifically justifiable nor recommended – even if it is repeatedly emphasized, even officially, that the Nutri-Score cannot do this – but it is supposed to subtly suggest exactly that and that is what it does. People believe that “healthy” products are green and “unhealthy” are red.
2. The Nutri-Score means that consumers will pay more money for less food quality. Solid ingredients such as energy and flavor sources (sugar, fat and salt) are replaced by “healthy”, content-free fillers in order to move towards the “green point”. In addition, the taste suffers. In short: There is no scientific basis for the proposed division into a points system. These values are not based on (causal) evidence, but on the free spirit of resourceful researchers who have established them based on eminence.
There is no proof of benefit – and there will never be a scientific evaluation (“effectiveness analysis”) to assess the health-relevant effects (such as effects on heart attacks, strokes, cancer, lifespan). Why? These analyzes are practically impossible to perform.
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Can Nutri-Score help with weight loss?
No, other parameters count. If you want to lose weight sustainably, you have to follow your own individual path – for life. This means that the long-term change in diet fits perfectly with your own personality as well as your metabolism and lifestyle. Only those who consistently implement this individual weight loss solution with will, joy and passion will not only lose kilos, but will also be able to maintain their new, slimmed-down desired weight permanently.
The times of general “one-fits-all” concepts and fixed diet plans, however, are over. Also take a look at the two-part FAQ video interview – here you will get the most important answers to relevant questions about successfully losing weight and staying slim:
Nutritionist explains the key to your desired weight (Part 1)
Losing weight: Graduate ecotrophologist Uwe Knop reveals the key to success (Part 2)
Book recommendation (advertisement)
“Successfully lose weight and stay slim” by Uwe Knop
Can the Nutri-Score also have negative effects?
Quite conceivable in times like these, where fear of “unhealthy eating” is constantly raised and fueled every day. The Nutri-Score can e.g. B. scare nutrition-sensitive and health-conscious consumers. There will certainly be a lot of people who won’t buy anything that has red dots on it – simply because they are afraid of eating “unhealthy” foods.
The Nutri-Score could therefore lead to a new form of eating disorder: These “scorectics” are the result when moderate orthorexics “on top” develop a pronounced red point aversion. All in all, for the sake of consumers, we can only hope that many companies do not adhere to the (still voluntary) Nutri requirement, show a clear stance and continue to only offer their food “free from” – free from fictitious traffic light points without any benefit for them people’s health.
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