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European consumers are finding it increasingly difficult to decipher nutrition labels on food.
This situation, described as a “jungle” by the EU Court of Auditors, not only creates confusion, but exposes shoppers to the risk of being deceived, with potential health consequences. According to a report recently published by the European audit body, the current legal framework is lacking and does not provide the necessary protections against misleading or non-standardised claims.
A fragmented system
One of the main problems highlighted by the Court is the lack of a common labelling system at European level. Currently, Member States adopt different approaches, contributing to a heterogeneous landscape that confuses consumers. For example, France uses the Nutri-Score, a traffic light system that assigns a letter and a colour to foods based on their nutritional quality, while Italy uses the NutrInform Battery, which presents information in the form of batteries that “charge” depending on the percentage of daily nutrients contained in a portion. These two approaches, despite having the same goal – providing useful and immediate information – reflect opposing philosophies. The Nutri-Score favours a synthetic judgment, which can be too simplistic, while the NutrInform Battery provides more detail, but requires greater interpretative capacity on the part of the consumer. The lack of unified legislation generates confusion and undermines the trust of European citizens, who struggle to consciously choose healthy food products.
Misleading slogans and inadequate controls
In addition to fragmentation, the EU Court of Auditors has denounced the spread of slogans and indications that can be misleading. Terms such as “natural”, “low fat” or “no added sugar” do not always meet defined standards and are often used for purely promotional purposes. This practice, according to the Court, not only confuses consumers, but can also lead to harmful food choices, especially when misleading messages mask higher-than-expected sugar, salt or fat content. Controls on labelling information are currently limited and penalties for infringements are insufficient to discourage incorrect behaviour. The Court stresses that the lack of adequate supervision encourages abuse and weakens consumer confidence in labelling systems.
The urgent need for harmonised legislation
In this context, the EU Court of Auditors calls on the European Commission to speed up the presentation of a legislative proposal to harmonise the nutrition labelling system at EU level. A proposal was initially expected during the recently concluded legislative term, but was postponed and is now among the priorities of the new von der Leyen Commission. A common system could improve the clarity and comparability of nutritional information, making it easier for European consumers to understand the value of the food they buy. However, the road to an agreement is not without obstacles, as the differences between the systems currently in use also reflect different political and cultural visions of how to inform citizens and promote a balanced diet.
The interests at stake
There are significant economic and commercial interests behind the debate on nutritional labelling. A system like the Nutri-Score, for example, is perceived by some as penalising traditional European products, such as olive oil or cheese, which could receive a less favourable rating despite being an integral part of a healthy Mediterranean diet. On the other hand, more detailed approaches such as the NutrInform Battery could be less immediate for the average consumer, reducing their effectiveness. The role of the food industry is also at stake, as it is lobbying to maintain a certain degree of flexibility in the way information is presented. Standardisation could entail significant costs for companies, especially those operating in international markets.
The impact on public health
The failure to ensure clear and reliable labels has direct implications for public health. According to studies cited by the Court, consumers who do not receive accurate information tend to underestimate the risks associated with excessive consumption of certain nutrients, such as sugars and saturated fats, contributing to the increase in obesity and diet-related chronic diseases. A harmonized system could not only promote more informed food choices, but also reduce inequalities among European citizens, ensuring equal access to quality information regardless of the country they live in.
The report of the EU Court of Auditors is a warning to the Commission and the Member States: it is time to overcome divisions and adopt a common nutritional labelling system that truly protects consumers. Only a clear and uniform regulatory framework will be able to guarantee transparency, trust and health for all European citizens, while promoting the competitiveness of the food industry in compliance with information and safety requirements.
Alessandro Fiorentino