---
_id: '67538'
abstract:
- lang: eng
text: "Introduction: The Nutri-Score is a summary graded and colour-coded front
of pack nutritional label providing an overall assessment of the nutritional value
of prepacked products. While its 2023 update has been shown to be consistent with
food-based dietary guidelines in the countries in which it has been adopted, its
application has not been investigated in a wider geographical area. The objective
of this study was to describe the classification of products according to the
Nutri-Score in a large number of European Union (EU) countries.\r\n\r\nMethods:
Branded food composition from 14 European countries was obtained from Euromonitor.
Food products were classified according to the Nutri-Score algorithm, based on
their content in energy (kJ/100 g), saturated fats (g/100 g), sugars (g/100 g),
salt (g/100 g), proteins (g/100 g), dietary fibres (g/100 g) and fruit, vegetables
and legumes (%/100 g). The distribution of the 2023 and 2015 Nutri-Score classifications
was described across countries and food categories.\r\n\r\nResults: Overall, classification
according to the 2023 Nutri-Score was consistent across 408 399 products from
14 countries and consistent with food-based dietary guidelines: >90% of frozen
fruit and vegetables or >95% pulses were classified in the more favourable classes
of the Nutri-Score (A/B), while >90% of discretionary foods such as chocolate
confectionery and sweet biscuits were classified in the less favourable classes
(D/E). Cross-country differences in classification reflected underlying variability
in nutrient composition of products (eg, salt content in refined breads ranged
from 1.05 to 1.23 g/100 g across countries).\r\n\r\nConclusion: The Nutri-Score
classification appeared consistent across a large geographical area, confirming
its potential as an EU-wide front-of-package label. While some residual challenges
remain for a limited number of specific product groups (eg, whole-grain pasta
or rice), our findings indicate that the 2023 update represents a substantial
improvement over the 2015 algorithm."
author:
- first_name: Chantal
full_name: Julia, Chantal
last_name: Julia
- first_name: Théo
full_name: Vasseur, Théo
last_name: Vasseur
- first_name: Hélène
full_name: Alexiou, Hélène
last_name: Alexiou
- first_name: Joline WJ
full_name: Beulens, Joline WJ
last_name: Beulens
- first_name: Anette
full_name: Buyken, Anette
id: '65985'
last_name: Buyken
- first_name: Torsten
full_name: Bohn, Torsten
last_name: Bohn
- first_name: Pauline
full_name: Ducrot, Pauline
last_name: Ducrot
- first_name: Ann Katin
full_name: Engelbert, Ann Katin
last_name: Engelbert
- first_name: Marie-Noelle
full_name: Falquet, Marie-Noelle
last_name: Falquet
- first_name: Esther
full_name: Infanger, Esther
last_name: Infanger
- first_name: Benedikt
full_name: Merz, Benedikt
last_name: Merz
- first_name: Elisabeth H M
full_name: Temme, Elisabeth H M
last_name: Temme
- first_name: Stefanie
full_name: Vandevijere, Stefanie
last_name: Vandevijere
citation:
ama: Julia C, Vasseur T, Alexiou H, et al. Does the Nutri-Score 2023 algorithm provide
consistent classification across European food supplies? A cross-sectional study
using branded food composition data from 14 countries. BMJ Public Health.
2026;4(3). doi:10.1136/ bmjph-2026-005015
apa: Julia, C., Vasseur, T., Alexiou, H., Beulens, J. W., Buyken, A., Bohn, T.,
Ducrot, P., Engelbert, A. K., Falquet, M.-N., Infanger, E., Merz, B., Temme, E.
H. M., & Vandevijere, S. (2026). Does the Nutri-Score 2023 algorithm provide
consistent classification across European food supplies? A cross-sectional study
using branded food composition data from 14 countries. BMJ Public Health,
4(3). https://doi.org/10.1136/
bmjph-2026-005015
bibtex: '@article{Julia_Vasseur_Alexiou_Beulens_Buyken_Bohn_Ducrot_Engelbert_Falquet_Infanger_et
al._2026, title={Does the Nutri-Score 2023 algorithm provide consistent classification
across European food supplies? A cross-sectional study using branded food composition
data from 14 countries}, volume={4}, DOI={10.1136/
bmjph-2026-005015}, number={3}, journal={BMJ Public Health}, author={Julia,
Chantal and Vasseur, Théo and Alexiou, Hélène and Beulens, Joline WJ and Buyken,
Anette and Bohn, Torsten and Ducrot, Pauline and Engelbert, Ann Katin and Falquet,
Marie-Noelle and Infanger, Esther and et al.}, year={2026} }'
chicago: Julia, Chantal, Théo Vasseur, Hélène Alexiou, Joline WJ Beulens, Anette
Buyken, Torsten Bohn, Pauline Ducrot, et al. “Does the Nutri-Score 2023 Algorithm
Provide Consistent Classification across European Food Supplies? A Cross-Sectional
Study Using Branded Food Composition Data from 14 Countries.” BMJ Public Health
4, no. 3 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1136/
bmjph-2026-005015.
ieee: 'C. Julia et al., “Does the Nutri-Score 2023 algorithm provide consistent
classification across European food supplies? A cross-sectional study using branded
food composition data from 14 countries,” BMJ Public Health, vol. 4, no.
3, 2026, doi: 10.1136/ bmjph-2026-005015.'
mla: Julia, Chantal, et al. “Does the Nutri-Score 2023 Algorithm Provide Consistent
Classification across European Food Supplies? A Cross-Sectional Study Using Branded
Food Composition Data from 14 Countries.” BMJ Public Health, vol. 4, no.
3, 2026, doi:10.1136/ bmjph-2026-005015.
short: C. Julia, T. Vasseur, H. Alexiou, J.W. Beulens, A. Buyken, T. Bohn, P. Ducrot,
A.K. Engelbert, M.-N. Falquet, E. Infanger, B. Merz, E.H.M. Temme, S. Vandevijere,
BMJ Public Health 4 (2026).
date_created: 2026-10-15T10:08:58Z
date_updated: 2026-10-15T10:09:18Z
department:
- _id: '22'
doi: 10.1136/ bmjph-2026-005015
intvolume: ' 4'
issue: '3'
language:
- iso: eng
main_file_link:
- url: https://bmjpublichealth.bmj.com/content/4/3/e005015
publication: BMJ Public Health
publication_status: published
status: public
title: Does the Nutri-Score 2023 algorithm provide consistent classification across
European food supplies? A cross-sectional study using branded food composition data
from 14 countries
type: journal_article
user_id: '92491'
volume: 4
year: '2026'
...