What is Nutri-Score? How the A to E food label works
What is Nutri-Score? How the A to E food label is calculated, which countries use it, what the 2024 update changed and what the grade leaves out.
By the Green Point editorial teamUpdated 6 min readKey takeaways
- Nutri-Score is a front-of-pack label that rates the nutritional quality of a food or drink from A (dark green) to E (dark orange).
- It weighs nutrients to limit (energy, sugars, saturated fat, salt) against nutrients and ingredients to encourage (fiber, protein, fruits, vegetables and pulses), per 100 g or 100 ml.
- It was first used in France in 2017 and is backed by seven European countries, but it stays voluntary for manufacturers.
- An updated, stricter algorithm has applied since 2024 in most of those countries and since March 2025 in France, with a transition period for packs.
- Nutri-Score says nothing about additives or processing, so a scanner that also rates additives gives you a fuller picture.
On this page
Nutri-Score is a color-coded label that grades the overall nutritional quality of a packaged food or drink from A (best) to E (least favorable). It is calculated per 100 g or 100 ml from the nutrition facts: points for energy, sugars, saturated fat and salt count against a product, while fiber, protein, fruits, vegetables and pulses count in its favor.
Nutri-Score explained: what the label is for
Nutri-Score was designed to help you compare similar products at a glance, without reading every number on the back of the pack. It does not replace the nutrition table: it sums it up in one letter and one color, from dark green A to dark orange E.
The label is most useful within a category. Comparing two breakfast cereals, two pizzas or two yogurts is exactly what it is built for. Comparing a cereal with a bottle of olive oil tells you much less, because their roles in a diet are completely different.
Where Nutri-Score comes from and which countries use it
The label was developed in France by Santé publique France, the national public health agency, based on work by the research team of Professor Serge Hercberg. It was first implemented in France in 2017.
Since then, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and Luxembourg have also recommended it, and the seven countries manage it together through a shared steering committee and a European scientific committee. Using the logo is voluntary: manufacturers choose whether to put it on their packs, so you will not find it on every product, even in those countries.
How is Nutri-Score calculated?
The calculation starts from the nutrition declaration per 100 g (or 100 ml for drinks). Each component earns points on a scale, and the final score decides the letter. You do not need to do the math yourself, but knowing what goes in helps you understand why a product lands where it does.
| Counts against a product | Counts in its favor |
|---|---|
| Energy (calories) | Fiber |
| Sugars | Protein |
| Saturated fat | Fruits, vegetables and pulses |
| Salt | |
| Non-nutritive sweeteners (in drinks, updated version) |
The favorable points are subtracted from the unfavorable ones. A low final score means an A or B, a high one means a D or E. Separate rules apply to some groups, such as drinks, cheeses, and fats, oils, nuts and seeds, so that products in those groups are rated in a way that matches dietary advice.
The updated algorithm (2024 and 2025)
The European scientific committee updated the algorithm for foods in 2022 and for drinks in 2023 to bring it closer to national dietary guidelines. The new version came into force on 1 January 2024 in Germany, Belgium, Switzerland and the Netherlands, on 5 March 2024 in Luxembourg and on 16 March 2025 in France, with a gradual rollout on packs.
Broadly, the update made the system stricter on products high in sugar and salt, treats red meat as a separate group with a cap on the protein points it can earn, and penalizes sweeteners in drinks, so that a diet soda no longer scores like water. As a result, some products changed letter, which is why you may see two versions of the same product with different grades for a while.
Nutri-Score A, B, C, D, E: what each grade means
- A (dark green): the best nutritional profile in its category.
- B (light green): a good profile, often a sensible everyday choice.
- C (yellow): middling; fine in reasonable amounts.
- D (light orange): a less favorable profile, better as an occasional food.
- E (dark orange): the least favorable profile in its category.
A grade is not a verdict on whether you should eat something. An E-rated chocolate can still fit in a balanced diet, and an A-rated product eaten in huge amounts does not make a diet healthy. Use the letter to choose between similar options, then think about portions.
What Nutri-Score does not tell you
Nutri-Score is a measure of nutrient balance, and it is honest about that. Several things that matter to many shoppers are outside its scope:
- Additives: an A-rated product can contain emulsifiers, sweeteners or colors. See our guide to food additives and E-numbers.
- Processing: the label does not say whether a food is ultra-processed.
- Organic farming and pesticide residues are not part of the calculation.
- Portion size: everything is per 100 g, so foods eaten in small amounts (like sauces or oils) can look worse than their real impact.
- Vitamins and minerals are not counted, apart from what fiber and food groups indirectly reflect.
That is why it helps to read the nutrition table and the ingredient list too. Our guide on how to read a nutrition label shows how to do that quickly.
Going beyond Nutri-Score with Green Point
Green Point gives every food a grade from A (Excellent) to E (Bad), including products that do not print the Nutri-Score logo. Its grade looks at more than nutrition: additives and organic status count too, so it can differ from the Nutri-Score printed on the pack. The app shows every nutrient and every additive with its risk level, so you can see where the difference comes from.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nutri-Score mandatory in Europe?
No. In the countries that back it, Nutri-Score is voluntary: manufacturers register to use the logo and choose whether to print it. That is why one brand may show it while a competitor on the same shelf does not. Some retailers apply it to all their own-brand products, but that is a company choice, not a legal obligation.
Why do some healthy foods like olive oil or cheese get a poor Nutri-Score?
The score is calculated per 100 g, and fats, oils and cheeses are naturally rich in energy, fat or salt. Specific rules exist for these groups so that, for example, oils with a better fat profile score better than butter. Still, the grade is meant for comparing within a category, so compare oils with oils and cheeses with cheeses.
Does Nutri-Score apply to fresh fruit and vegetables?
Nutri-Score is designed for processed and packaged foods that carry a nutrition table. Unpackaged fresh fruit, vegetables, fish and meat usually do not show it. Plain fruit and vegetables would score very well anyway, and dietary guidelines already encourage eating more of them.
Can a product with a Nutri-Score A still be unhealthy?
It can have downsides the label does not measure. An A-rated product may be ultra-processed, contain additives you prefer to avoid or be eaten in large portions. Nutri-Score is a useful shortcut for nutrient balance, not a complete health rating, so check the ingredient list as well.
Sources
- Nutri-ScoreSanté publique France
- The Nutri-Score calculation algorithm is evolving to promote healthier food choicesSanté publique France
- The new Nutri-Score algorithm and its consequencesEurofins
This guide is for general information and is not medical advice. If you have a skin, allergy or health concern, talk to a doctor, dermatologist or dietitian. Green Point scores and Skin Scan results are informational and are not a diagnosis.
