Spain adopts Nutri-Score food labelling

The Spanish Minister of Health & Social Welfare has announced the implementation of a five-colour code to be applied to all packaged foods and beverages. Known as “Nutri-Score”, this labelling is designed to provide consumers with information on the nutritional quality of the product. The front-of-pack label classifies foods and beverages according to five categories of nutritional value and quality. This is indicated by a color scale ranging from dark green (grade A) to dark red (grade E). Products designated grade A (dark green) have the best nutritional quality while products graded E (dark red) have poor nutritional quality.
Nutri-Score uses a nutrient-profiling system that measures the quantity of nutrients that should be favoured (fibre, protein, fruit and vegetables), and those that should be limited (saturated fat, sugar, salt). It is not a perfect guide to nutrition, but it is much better than existing labelling - simpler to decipher and clearly visible on the front of the product. This same law will also place limits on the advertising of unhealthy foods aimed at children aged under 15, and will prohibit the sale of unhealthy foods in schools and other institutions. The law will go into full effect by the end of 2019.