Tag: Voluntary labeling

Over 150 independent scientific studies have demonstrated the Nutri-Score's effectiveness in guiding consumer behavior towards healthier food choices. Despite this evidence, its legal status remains a complex issue, with its implementation largely voluntary across adopting countries.

While over 60 countries worldwide have some form of mandatory GMO labeling, a significant number of others operate under voluntary guidelines or include major exemptions,. This creates a complex global landscape regarding disclosure, with some nations offering consumers no guaranteed way to identify genetically modified ingredients.

In 2020, the European Commission indicated its intent to propose a mandatory, harmonized front-of-pack nutrition label for the entire EU as part of its Farm to Fork strategy. Yet, years later, the question lingers: is a Nutri-Score mandatory in Europe? The simple answer is no; its use remains voluntary for food companies, though the journey to this point reveals a complex interplay of public health, politics, and industry lobbying.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), while protein is an essential macronutrient, its daily value percentage (%DV) is not required on the Nutrition Facts label for all products intended for a general population over the age of four. This exception is due to the fact that scientific evidence does not indicate protein intake is a public health concern for this demographic.

According to monitoring reports, a significant portion of eligible packaged foods in Australia and New Zealand still do not display a Health Star Rating. This reveals that the answer to 'does everything have a Health Star Rating?' is a definitive no.