After the solid foods, the Nutri-Score algorithm for drinks has now also been updated. The FPS Public Health announced this on Monday. Due to the update, sweetened drinks will soon receive a lower score. The Nutri-Score was introduced in 2018 and indicates in a visual way how healthy a food is, based on the amount of calories present, total sugars, saturated fat, salt, protein, fiber, fruits, vegetables and nuts. The algorithm behind these scores-which range from A (healthiest) to E (unhealthiest) – was put under the magnifying glass by a group of specialists and revised to better match the current dietary recommendations. Initially for the solid foods and now the update for drinks is also complete. From now on, drinks that contain sweeteners, such as ‘light’ soda, will receive a lower score. This is because recent studies show that these alternative sweeteners do not provide a crucial health benefit over traditional sugars. In addition, milk, milk-based drinks and plant-based drinks will henceforth be included in the ‘drinks’ category. The exclusive position of water is also highlighted. As the only drink recommended by the international health authorities, water receives an a label. The amendments are to be implemented by the end of the year in the seven countries concerned (Belgium, Germany, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland). The companies concerned will then have two more years to adjust their labelling.
