Consumer groups have called for the rating system but the food industry is divided over Nutri-Score.
Keystone/Christophe Gateau
The Swiss-based multinational Nestlé has announced plans for the gradual introduction of a nutritional profile system for its food and beverage products sold in continental Europe.
Senior company officials are quoted as saying the ‘traffic light’ labelling scheme, which rates products on their sugar, sodium and fat levels, would be fully implemented in Switzerland, France and Belgium over the next two years.
Health authorities in these countries have recommended the use of Nutri-Score and several consumer groups have also come out in favour. This past spring the Swiss Office of Food SafetyExternal link indicated support for the food labelling scheme.
Details on the roll-out plans are to be announced later this year.
“Europeans are increasingly eager to know what is in the food and beverages they consume. We want to provide them with easy-to-understand nutritional information and to do this quickly,” said Marco Settembri, chief executive officer of Nestlé Europe.
Nestlé was part of a group of multinationals, which refused to adopt Nutri-Score and tested a rival system, but it soon suspended its trials and now appears to have changed its policy.
Following the adoption of the system by other companies, including Danone, Nestlé said it believes it is time to build broader momentum in Europe.
More
More
Former Nestlé boss defends food industry’s past and maps future
This content was published on
Obesity rates have doubled since 1980. Against this backdrop, Peter Brabeck, for two decades head of Nestlé, has written Nutrition for a Better Life.
Should raw milk sales be banned or should consumers decide?
Swiss food regulations do not allow raw milk to be sold for direct consumption. However, a loophole allows 400 raw milk vending machines to do just that.
Switzerland to step up humanitarian aid to Lebanon and Syria
This content was published on
The Swiss government decided to allocate an additional CHF7 million to the two countries in response to the escalating violence in the Middle East.
Report exposes widespread hygiene issues in Swiss hospitals
This content was published on
A Swissmedic report found that nearly all of the 25 Swiss hospitals inspected had issues with disinfecting, sterilising and packaging of medical products.
Swiss bank Mirabaud closes brokerage unit due to poor performance
This content was published on
The move spanning the bank’s global operations means a loss of 17 jobs, including five each in Switzerland and the UK, and seven in Spain.
Guterres condemns Israel’s plan to label UNRWA a terrorist organisation
This content was published on
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has spoken out against a law proposed by the Israeli parliament that would classify UNRWA as a terrorist organisation.
This content was published on
The Swiss federal technology institute ETH Zurich is the best university in continental Europe, according to the Times Higher Education ranking.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Nestlé CEO discusses building a plant-based growth strategy
This content was published on
In an interview in the SonntagsZeitung, Nestlé CEO Mark Schneider talks about meeting consumer demand for meatless alternatives.
This content was published on
Mark Schneider pours a can of cold brew Nitro Nescafé coffee in the company’s head office overlooking Lake Geneva, Switzerland.
This content was published on
Nestle is planning to restructure its operations in the Swiss city of Basel. Up to 100 jobs are threatened by cuts or moving production abroad.
Nestlé ranked among top plastic polluters worldwide
This content was published on
Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and the Swiss food giant Nestlé are the world's biggest producers of plastic waste, according to an indicative study by Greenpeace.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.