Parliament demands federal intervention in “Nutri-Score”
Published: Thursday, Mar 14th 2024, 19:20
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The Federal Council must define the use of the "Nutri-Score" nutritional information label in more detail in the Food Act for the Federal Assembly. After the Council of States, the National Council has also referred a corresponding proposal to the federal government.
On Thursday, the Council approved a motion by the Council of States' Committee for Science, Education and Culture (WBK-S) by 102 votes to 85. It will now be passed on to the Federal Council for implementation.
The Nutri-Score informs consumers about the nutritional quality of a product on a scale from A green (= balanced) to E red (= unbalanced). According to the Federal Council, it is based on an algorithm.
Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider and the spokesperson for the majority of the preliminary committee in the National Council argued in vain that the Confederation would not be able to implement the requested regulation. This is because the "Nutri-Score" brand belongs to the French health agency Santé Publique France.
If Switzerland were to set different regulations, the Nutri-Score could no longer be used in Switzerland, the national government states in its written response to the motion. The use of Nutri-Score is a matter for the companies, but must be in accordance with the conditions of Santé Publique France.
At least prevent mandatory
Those in favor of the motion, on the other hand, argued that the Nutri-Score would put certain food producers at a disadvantage. A balanced diet is crucial for health and not an isolated view of a single product.
This is why the Swiss food pyramid is still the most important consumer information tool, not a comparative label. The instrument is too simplified. It takes too little or no account of the degree of processing, additives, sustainability, production method and origin.
Proponent of the motion Alois Huber (SVP/AG) said in the Council that it simply does not make sense for Coca Cola Zero to be rated light green, i.e. with the letter B. Apple juice from high-stem trees, on the other hand, is rated with the letter C because of the fructose it contains and is therefore rated one level lower.
With the motion, Parliament could at least prevent the "Nutri-Score" from becoming mandatory in Switzerland, said Huber after a lively debate. The small chamber had clearly approved the motion in June 2023.
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