Understanding What is the Nutrition Score in the EU

November 18, 2025 •

3 min read

First adopted in France in 2017, the Nutri-Score is the most prominent nutrition score in the EU, designed to help consumers quickly assess the nutritional quality of food products. This voluntary, color-coded label simplifies complex nutritional information to aid healthier purchasing decisions.

Quick Summary

Explains the Nutri-Score, the voluntary color-coded nutrition score prevalent in several EU countries, detailing its calculation based on favorable and unfavorable nutrients to help consumers compare products within categories.

Key Points

Nutri-Score is Not Mandatory: While used in many EU countries, Nutri-Score is a voluntary, not a mandatory, label across the entire European Union.
Traffic Light Color System: The score uses a five-level color and letter scale (A-E) ranging from dark green (healthiest) to dark orange (least healthy).
Based on 100g/100ml: The Nutri-Score calculation is standardized per 100g or 100ml of a food product, regardless of serving size.
Calculates Favorable vs. Unfavorable: It works by balancing points from 'unfavorable' components (sugar, fat, salt, calories) against 'favorable' ones (protein, fiber, fruits, vegetables).
Internal Comparison Tool: The system is primarily intended to help consumers compare nutritional quality between similar products within the same food category.
Incentivizes Reformulation: The Nutri-Score encourages food manufacturers to improve their product recipes to achieve a better, more marketable score.

A Voluntary System in a Fragmented Landscape

While there is no single mandatory nutrition score implemented across the entire European Union, the Nutri-Score is the most widely adopted and recognized voluntary front-of-pack nutritional label. It is officially recommended by several countries, including France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. This voluntary system exists alongside the mandatory back-of-pack nutritional information required by EU regulation, which details energy, fat, saturates, carbohydrates, sugars, protein, and salt.

The existence of various voluntary front-of-pack schemes, such as the Keyhole in Nordic countries or the Health Star Rating, contributes to a fragmented EU market. The European Commission has expressed a desire for a harmonized, mandatory EU-wide front-of-pack label as part of its Farm to Fork Strategy, though this has faced delays and opposition.

How is the Nutri-Score calculated?

The Nutri-Score is calculated based on a scientific algorithm that assesses the nutritional profile of a product per 100g or 100ml. It assigns points based on both 'unfavorable' and 'favorable' components.

Unfavorable components (negative points) include:

Energy content (calories)
High sugar content
High saturated fatty acid content
High salt (sodium) content

Favorable components (positive points) include:

Fruit, vegetable, and pulse content
Dietary fibre content
Protein content

The final score is determined by offsetting negative points with positive points. The algorithm has been updated over time to better align with current dietary guidelines, for instance, by adjusting scores for sugary products, red meat, and oils with lower saturated fat.

The A-to-E Color-Coded System

The Nutri-Score uses a simple, visual five-level color scale with corresponding letters (A to E) to represent a product's nutritional quality.

Dark Green 'A': Highest nutritional quality.
Light Green 'B': Good nutritional profile.
Yellow 'C': Medium nutritional profile, consume in moderation.
Orange 'D': Less favorable nutritional profile, consume sparingly.
Dark Orange 'E': Lowest nutritional quality, consume rarely.

It is important to note that Nutri-Score is designed for comparing products within the same food category (e.g., comparing different types of breakfast cereals), not across different categories (e.g., comparing cheese and soda).

Nutri-Score compared to other systems

Different front-of-pack labeling systems exist globally. Here's a comparison:


Feature	Nutri-Score (EU)	Traffic Light System (UK)	Health Star Rating (Australia/NZ)
Rating Format	Single letter (A-E) and color (green to red) indicating overall nutritional quality.	Individual red, amber, or green indicators for fat, sugar, and salt content.	Star rating (0.5 to 5 stars) and color-coded bars indicating overall nutritional quality.
Calculation Basis	Composite score based on a balance of favorable and unfavorable nutrients per 100g/ml.	Evaluates individual nutrients to provide color-coded advice on each one separately.	Star rating based on a balanced assessment of energy, risk nutrients, and beneficial components.
Ease of Comparison	Designed for quick comparison within a single product category.	Offers quick interpretation of individual nutrients, but no single aggregate score for quick comparison.	Enables comparison across different product categories based on a single star rating.
Voluntary/Mandatory	Voluntary, but adopted or recommended by several EU states.	Voluntary.	Voluntary.

Benefits and critiques of the Nutri-Score

Advantages

Simplicity and Clarity: The color-coded scale is easy for consumers to understand quickly.
Incentivizes Reformulation: The scoring system encourages food manufacturers to improve the nutritional profile of their products.
Scientific Backing: It is based on a transparent, independently developed algorithm.

Disadvantages

Categorical Misconceptions: Comparing products across different categories can be misleading.
Neglects Key Factors: The score does not consider the degree of processing or the presence of additives and micronutrients.
Portion Size Controversy: The 100g/100ml reference amount doesn't account for typical portion sizes.

Conclusion: The ongoing evolution of nutrition labeling in the EU

In conclusion, the Nutri-Score is the primary voluntary 'nutrition score' used in several EU countries to simplify nutritional information. Its color-coded A-to-E system helps consumers compare products within categories, encouraging healthier choices and industry reformulation. However, the system has limitations, such as potential misinterpretation when comparing unlike foods and not accounting for processing or additives. The discussion about a mandatory EU-wide label and continuous scientific updates show that nutrition labeling in Europe is still developing, aiming to provide clear information for consumers. You can learn more about EU food labeling regulations on the European Commission's food safety website: https://food.ec.europa.eu/food-safety/labelling-and-nutrition_en.

Frequently Asked Questions

Several European countries have officially recommended the Nutri-Score for voluntary use, including France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.

The label is a simple visual guide with a color-coded letter from A to E. An 'A' in dark green signifies the highest nutritional quality, while an 'E' in dark orange indicates the lowest. A product's dot is highlighted on the scale to show its rating.

For products within the same food category, a B is considered a better nutritional choice than a C. However, comparing products from different categories (e.g., a breakfast cereal vs. a cheese) based solely on their Nutri-Score is not recommended and can be misleading.

Olive oil often receives a 'D' rating because the algorithm penalizes it for its high caloric and fat content per 100g. This is a common critique, as the score does not account for typical small portion sizes or the type of fat (e.g., healthy monounsaturated fats).

No, Nutri-Score is a voluntary, supplementary label. It is not a replacement for the mandatory nutrition declaration required by EU law, which must still be present on the back of pre-packaged foods.

By visually communicating a product's nutritional quality, Nutri-Score creates a competitive advantage for products with a better rating. This encourages manufacturers to reformulate their recipes to reduce sugar, salt, and fat and increase positive components like fiber.

The Nutri-Score provides a single, overall letter and color grade, while the UK's Traffic Light system gives separate color ratings for individual nutrients like fat, saturated fat, sugar, and salt. The Nutri-Score aims for an overall summary, while the Traffic Light system focuses on specific nutritional details.