Hello everyone. My name is Daiki Wakabayashi, a graduate student in economics at Goethe University in Frankfurt am Main. Since starting to live alone in October last year, I’ve profoundly realized how challenging it is to prepare meals every day. When you’re busy with your studies or work, making nutritionally balanced food choices from various products is tough. I believe many of you can relate to this situation. Wouldn’t it be convenient if you could tell at a glance What exactly is the Nutri-Score? If you shop in supermarkets in Germany and other EU countries, you will quickly notice colorful labels on the food packaging marked “Nutri-Score”. This score evaluates nutritional value on a scale from ‘A’ to ‘E,’ where ‘A’ is the healthiest and ‘E’ has the most adverse health effects. Designed using colors and letters, this system allows consumers to instantly assess the nutritional value of food products, making healthy choices easier even during a busy life. Moreover, for food companies, it serves as a way to market health-oriented products and differentiate themselves in the market. The purpose of this labeling system is to simplify complex nutritional information and make it intuitively understandable for consumers. So, how is the Nutri-Score calculated? The score is determined based on the nutrients contained per 100g (or 100 ml) of a product, divided into positive and negative points. For example, nutrients considered beneficial for health, such as dietary fiber, protein, fruits, and vegetables, earn positive points. On the other hand, components associated with higher health risks like saturated fats, simple sugars, calories, and salt are Many countries adopt taxation methods on specific goods to limit undesirable consumption. A typical example is the “obesity tax,” which is levied on junk food and beverages like soda, considered to be causes of obesity. However, these taxation policies have the potential to restrict consumer freedom. On the other hand, labeling systems might function as excellent tools to promote healthy decision-making while respecting consumer freedom of choice. So, to what extent does the nutritional whether a food product is good for your health? In fact, there is a solution to this problem in Germany and other EU countries. It is called the “Nutri-Score” system, a highly convenient system. This voluntary system was first introduced in France in 2017 and has since spread to other EU nations. In this article, I will introduce this innovative system and explore how it contributes to our health.calculated as negative points. These points are then totaled to assign a color-coded score from ‘A’ to ‘E.’It’s quite simple, right? However, this system is based on scientific research and has been evaluated by numerous research institutions, including the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). IARC reports that people who consume many products with low Nutri-Score ratings tend to have a higher cancer risk.scoring system impact consumers? The next section will introduce you a study conducted on this topic. In a study by Robertson (2023), experiments were conducted in Ireland using four simulated markets. These markets were set up as follows: First, a baseline “Current Market” was established. Then, a “Healthier Market” included relatively more healthy products than the Current Market. The “Healthier+ Market” included even more healthy alternative products than Figure1: “Nutri-Score” LabelsCited from Robertson, Andersson, & Lunn, 2023 What is the Nutri-Score? How the Nutri-Score is Calculated Impact of Labeling System on Consumer Behavior 5Daiki Wakabayashii Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt am MainThe Nutritional Scoring System in European Countries
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