Portugal’s Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, José Manuel Fernandes, announced that Portugal will revoke the implementation of Nutri-Score. In a statement to Público magazine, Fernandes described the “last-minute” order from the previous administration, which proposed implementing the Nutri-Score food label, as “illegal” because it was issued without prior consultation with the state entities responsible for EU-related policies.
The minister rejected Nutri-Score on the grounds that it is contrary to positions adopted by Portugal, which has always supported harmonization with a system adopted at the European level. Currently, there is no harmonized food labeling system in the EU, although it is an objective of the “Farm to Fork” strategy. The dispute over which front-of-package (FOP) label should be adopted has continued for years, but it is becoming increasingly evident that Nutri-Score will not be the chosen one. Portugal’s decision and Fernandes’ position underline this aspect.
Nutri-Score does not achieve the acceptance levels hoped for by its French creators because scientific opinion has been critical from the beginning regarding its scientific basis, function, and effectiveness. Critics have highlighted the problem with the fixed reference amount of 100 grams or milliliters. For example, olive oil, though typically used in small quantities, can only achieve a C score because it is entirely composed of fat.
Although the problem is evident, Nutri-Score’s supporters have often ignored it until the pressure became too great. At the end of 2023, the Nutri-Score algorithm was updated to better align with general nutrition recommendations. However, a study published in April 2024 in the “European Review of Agricultural Economics” revealed that food producers are changing their products to secure higher ratings from the front-of-pack food labeling system. This means that the nutritional composition was altered merely to achieve a better score from an algorithm widely considered flawed.
Persistent issues like these are why more and more countries are deciding to drop Nutri-Score entirely. In Italy, the Competition Authority banned Nutri-Score, arguing that it did not adequately inform consumers. Similarly, in Romania, the use of Nutri-Score has been banned since May 2024 by the National Authority for Consumer Protection, which called the label “misleading and unauthorized.” In Portugal, a 2021 study by the National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge showed that most products rated Nutri-Score A or B did not meet the reference values for sugar and salt set by the Integrated Strategy for the Promotion of Healthy Eating.
There are also allegations that Nutri-Score’s developers attempted to block critical scientific papers during the peer review process. If these claims are valid, they pose a serious threat to academic freedom and the integrity of scientific discussions around Nutri-Score.
Even in countries where Nutri-Score is used on a voluntary basis, opposition is growing. In Germany, the food industry and regional governments oppose the system, arguing that it unfairly penalizes local products and does not always align with national dietary guidelines. Frustration is evident, for example, in the case of bread, which receives a negative C rating, affecting the pride associated with the quality and nutritional value of traditional German bread. Products containing red meat cannot achieve a better score than C, due to the controversial classification of red meat by the World Health Organization as “probably carcinogenic.”
The European elections could renew debates over FOP labels when a new Commission is formed. However, FOP labels will likely be a low-priority agenda item given the numerous issues the EU needs to address, so it will take time before a harmonized European FOP labeling system is decided upon.
