Ability of Nutri-Score to discriminate the nutritional quality of prepacked foods in Slovenia

Abstract

Abstract European Commission recognised the benefits of front-of-package labelling (FOPL) with the proposal for a harmonised FOPL, which should be implemented by the end of 2022. Many European scientists support the implementation of Nutri-Score, a 5-colour nutrition labelling scheme. However, Nutri-Score is currently implemented mainly in Western Europe, and data for Central Europe are limited. This study aimed to evaluate the ability of Nutri-Score to discriminate the nutritional quality of prepacked products from the Slovenian food supply, and to compare results of nutrient profiling with national dietary recommendations, based on previously implemented WHO profile. Analyses was done using the Composition and Labelling Information System (CLAS), which contains labelling information on prepacked foods in Slovenia. We investigated the distribution of products across five Nutri-Score categories and investigated the agreement between Nutri-Score and nationally adapted WHO Europe profile. Results show that Nutri-Score has a high ability to discriminate food products based on their composition. Food categories that are more desirable in our diet (e.g., fruits, vegetables) have a better Nutri-Score when compared with less desirable categories such as sweets and animal fats. This ability was also shown within each subcategory. Nutri-Score overall showed a moderate agreement with the WHO Europe profile (0.57). The agreement was almost perfect for Cereals and cereal products, and lower for Edible oils and emulsions. Our results showed that the Nutri-Score is a relevant tool to discriminate the nutritional quality of products across different food groups and is in most cases consistent with national recommendations. This study gives additional information about Nutri-Score and can support policymakers in making evidence-based decisions about the implementation of harmonised FOPL in Europe. Key messages Results show that the Nutri-Score is a relevant tool to discriminate the nutritional quality of products across different food groups. Nutri-Score is in most cases consistent with Slovenian nutritional recommendations.