Danone has announced its decision to eliminate Nutri-Score labels from its dairy and plant-based beverages sold across Europe. As one of the first major food and beverage companies to voluntarily embrace this labeling scheme, Danone has voiced its dissatisfaction with recent modifications to the European system.
These revisions have categorized dairy and plant-based drinks alongside soft drinks, which Danone claims creates a significant inconsistency. The Activia and Alpro owner intends to remove these labels starting this month.
“This development gives an erroneous view of the nutritional and functional quality of drinkable dairy and plant-based products, not in line with food-based dietary guidelines in Europe,” stated Danone in a comment to Just Food. The company further emphasized that this change could lead to consumer confusion due to varying Nutri-Score ratings for products that have similar nutritional functions but come in different formats.
The Nutri-Score system, which utilizes a color-coded approach to indicate nutritional quality, was introduced in France in 2017 to provide consumers with a quick overview of a product’s nutritional value, graded on a scale from A to E.
Danone has been employing these labels on products in various European markets, including France, Belgium, Germany, and Spain. In 2020, the company, alongside Nestlé, advocated for making Nutri-Score labeling mandatory across the European Union (EU), a move that is still pending.
However, the Nutri-Score labels have faced resistance in certain markets. Several EU member states, Italy being a notable example, have expressed concerns that the system unfairly disadvantages specific products. In June, Portugal’s government suspended the planned rollout of front-of-pack labels, reflecting broader skepticism toward the labeling system.
The EU has been striving to establish a unified labeling system for several years, yet consensus among member countries remains elusive. In light of Danone’s recent announcement, consumer advocacy groups have taken to social media to voice their discontent.
BEUC, the European consumer organization representing over 40 associations, stated, “So much for transparency and consumer information! Time for EU-wide rules.” This sentiment was echoed by UFC-Que Choisir, a French consumer group, which criticized Danone’s withdrawal of the Nutri-Score label.
“Total transparency, really? Danone has just announced that it is removing the #NutriScore on its drinking yogurts following the labeling update,” the group remarked. “To ensure there are no more secrets between manufacturers and consumers, there is only one solution: the Nutri-Score must be mandatory!”
In conclusion, the dynamics surrounding labeling in the food and beverage industry are complex and evolving. As companies like Danone navigate these changes, the conversation around nutritional transparency and consumer awareness continues to grow in significance. For those interested in food and drink consumer trends, this development highlights the ongoing challenges and opportunities within the industry.
