Emmi also pulls the plug on Nutri-Score
Published: Friday, May 24th 2024, 11:00
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The Nutri-Score food traffic light is having an increasingly difficult time in Switzerland. Just a few days ago, Migros announced that it would no longer be using the food traffic light in future due to cost-benefit considerations. Now the dairy group Emmi will also no longer display the food information label on new products.
"Other suppliers of mixed coffee-milk drinks have not introduced the Nutri-Score on their packaging, so comparability is not possible," said a spokeswoman for the company on request. The Tamedia newspapers had reported on this the day before.
In addition, no harmonization of the application has been achieved between the European countries, the spokesperson continued. Accordingly, there is no added value for consumers.
Emmi has therefore decided to no longer use the Nutri-Score for new products. "We are sticking to the Nutri-Score for existing products for the time being," she said.
Migros speaks of excessive costs
Migros, on the other hand, announced on Tuesday that it was abandoning the Nutri-Score mainly for cost reasons. "Experience since its introduction three years ago has shown that the benefits are too small in relation to the high costs," it said.
The spokeswoman did not say whether Emmi felt the same way. The decision was made "after internal deliberations". It had nothing to do with Migros' decision, the spokesperson said. Nor did the current political debate about the food traffic lights have any influence.
The Nutri-Score was recently discussed in the National Council because a motion called on the Federal Council to define the use of the Nutri-Score in Switzerland in more detail. One of the criticisms is that products with artificial sweeteners - such as Coca Cola Zero - score better on the food traffic light than those with fructose, such as apple juice. Both councils approved the motion, which is now being implemented by the Federal Council.
Nestlé sticks to the label
The world's largest food company Nestlé, on the other hand, is sticking to the Nutri-Score. It was one of the first companies in Europe to introduce the label in 2019 and has since extended it to its entire product range in Switzerland.
"Our aim is to help consumers choose a balanced diet by improving the nutritional value of our products and providing clear nutritional labeling on the packaging," said a spokesperson.
However, Nestlé is "always open to evidence-based further development of the Nutri-Score based on the latest scientific and nutritional findings", she added. The company also told Tamedia that it would like "the Nutri-Score to become even more present on the shelves".
Nestlé is therefore the only remaining major Swiss food producer that still uses the traffic light. Coop, for example, has not even introduced the Nutri-Score apart from a test phase. Foreign companies such as the French food multinational Danone or the German retail chains Aldi and Lidl, on the other hand, print the Nutri-Score on their products.
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