France is pushing back against the revised NutriScore labeling system, which rates foods based on nutritional value. The system, updated in December 2023, has led to controversy, particularly over the low rating assigned to Roquefort cheese. French Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard has refused to sign the implementation directive, citing concerns over its impact on traditional dairy products. While countries like Belgium and Germany have adopted the new system, France remains resistant, arguing that the updated algorithm unfairly penalizes iconic French foods.
The French government is resisting the implementation of the revised NutriScore labeling system, which has sparked debate over its impact on traditional French dairy products, particularly Roquefort cheese. NutriScore, a front-of-pack food labeling system, was introduced to help consumers quickly assess the nutritional value of food using a color and letter scale, ranging from A (green) for the healthiest options to E (red) for the least recommended. The system, which underwent an update in December 2023, has been adopted by Belgium and Germany in 2024, but France has refused to apply it so far.
French Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard has taken a firm stance against the new NutriScore system, refusing to sign the official instruction for its implementation. The primary concern revolves around Roquefort cheese, an iconic product of French gastronomy, which received a poor rating under the new classification. “I have not signed yet; I don’t know how much room there is to correct the negative effects,” stated Genevard on March 6, 2025, criticizing the downgrade of dairy products such as skimmed milk.
France first introduced NutriScore voluntarily in 2017, using a traffic light-based rating system. However, its earlier version received criticism for rating certain breakfast cereals higher than healthy oils like olive oil. The new revision, developed by a group of European scientists from University 13 of Paris-Bobigny, aimed to address these flaws but has now led to fresh disagreements, particularly within France’s dairy sector.
Supporters of the updated NutriScore argue that the new algorithm provides a more accurate representation of food’s nutritional value, helping consumers make healthier choices. However, opponents claim that it unfairly penalizes traditional and natural products, which have been part of France’s culinary heritage for centuries.
While Belgium and Germany have fully implemented the revised system, France remains undecided on its adoption. For now, French dairy producers, particularly those representing Roquefort cheese, continue to push back against what they see as an unjust downgrade of their products.
