Estonia considers Nutri-Score labels to simplify healthy food choices

Estonia may soon introduce a voluntary Nutri-Score labelling system to help shoppers choose healthier foods. The scheme, already in use across several European countries, uses colours and letters to show a product's nutritional value. But not everyone supports the idea.

The Nutri-Score system ranks food from A (dark green) to E (dark red) based on nutritional content. It looks at energy, saturated fats, salt, sugars, fibre, and fruit or vegetable levels. Supporters say it makes complex nutritional details easier to understand at a glance.

France, Belgium, and Germany already use the labelling, though adoption varies. The EU once considered a bloc-wide scheme but faced opposition, particularly from Italy. Now, Estonia's Ministry of Agriculture is pushing for a voluntary version, arguing it will guide consumers toward better choices.

However, the Chamber of Agriculture and Commerce has raised concerns. Critics claim the system oversimplifies nutrition by labelling foods as 'good' or 'bad', which could confuse shoppers. The government plans to make a final decision by autumn, leaving businesses free to choose whether to adopt the labels.

If approved, Estonia's voluntary Nutri-Score system would appear on packaging later this year. Producers and retailers would decide for themselves whether to display the labels. The outcome could influence how Estonians assess food choices in the future.