Certain Italian foods risk a drop in sales in France after the introduction of the Nutri-Score nutrition labeling system, Federalimentare, the Italian Food Industry Federation has argued.
The system consists of a five-colour nutrition labeling method, from green to red, assigned to foods in function of both their content of positive nutrients (fibres, proteins, fruits, vegetables) and ingredients linked to obesity (sugar, salt, saturated fatty acids). Retailers and producers such as Auchan, Leclerc, Intermarché, Fleury Michon, Danone and McCain have already signed up to use the system.
'Misleading'
According to Federalimentare chairman Luigi Scordamaglia, Nutri-Score is a misleading choice for the consumer. He says that “rejecting or promoting a food based on the presence of a single ingredient will confuse consumers and risks being harmful to health”. In his opinion, the European Commission must adopt a common labeling policy.
The Italian products at threat include Parmigiano Reggiano, Grana Padano, ham, salami, and oil, according to estimates by Italian farmers’ association Coldiretti, reports daily Il Sole 24 Ore.
The director general of the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium, Riccardo Deserti, warned that nearly all cheeses will receive an 'orange' grade in the scoring system, indicating a higher fat content, while some industrial non-fat cheese will be in the 'green' category.
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Branislav Pekic. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine
