The government, which is stalling on the implementation of a new version of the Nutri-Score nutritional label, should "follow scientific recommendations instead of listening only to the private interests" of agro-industrial companies, the consumer association Foodwatch declared on Friday.
Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard "is speaking out for the arguments of the dairy lobbies and blocking a public health measure that has been expected and ready for a year," said Audrey Morice, campaign manager at Foodwatch, in a press release.
"It's irresponsible," she continued, calling on "the French government to pull itself together and follow scientific recommendations instead of only listening to private interests."
The Minister of Agriculture, questioned this week in the Senate by Jean-Claude Anglars, elected LR of Aveyron (Occitanie), admitted not having "signed" a decree bringing into force a new method of calculating this nutritional labeling, more stringent with products processed by the agri-food industry.
This new method of calculation had been approved by the government team "more than a year ago," said Ms. Genevard.
"The decree is pending my signature. I haven't signed it yet. I don't know what room for maneuver I have to correct its negative effects, but believe me, I'm taking a very close interest in it," she told the Senate.
The representative of the Comté cheese region criticizes the indicator for giving a poor rating to "remarkable" local products or those from "magnificent French cured meats," particularly cheese and charcuterie.
"The Nutri-Score doesn't say that you shouldn't consume products; it reminds you that certain products that are very fatty, very sweet, very salty, should be consumed in small quantities, not too frequently," Serge Hercberg, a professor of nutrition and the designer of this labeling system, which is widely acclaimed by nutrition specialists, recently explained to AFP.
He points out that "nutrition-related diseases," such as obesity, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes or hypertension, have "a human cost and also an extremely significant social and economic cost."
In a response sent to AFP on Friday, he further noted that "the vast majority of traditional foods are well classified by Nutri-Score, only cheeses and charcuterie are classified in categories D and E."
This is not to discourage people from eating them, but to "remind consumers that, given their salt and saturated fatty acid content, these foods should be consumed in limited quantities and frequencies," says Mr. Hercberg, recalling that "this point is perfectly in line with the public health nutritional recommendations that are in force for the general public."
For Mr. Hercberg, the Minister of Agriculture "does not speak of scientific expertise or public health interests that prevailed in the Nutri-Score update", "she only speaks of her disappointment because cheeses and charcuterie, these foods that she defines as 'remarkable', even fatty and salty, have not benefited from a 'correction' (a revaluation) with a better score on the Nutri-Score".
The European Commission recently reiterated its search for a consensual solution for nutritional labeling that is not Nutri-Score, which is opposed by major industrialists, certain agricultural sectors and the Italian government.
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