Leggi l’articolo in italiano

Pietro Paganini expressed his opinions on the implementation of Nutriscore in Portugal in the Portuguese newspaper Diário de Notícias, one of the nation’s most important papers. This move does not favor the reduction of obesity and only plays into the hands of multinational corporations, to the detriment of traditional Portuguese foods.

You can read the translation of the article in Italian below or the complete article in Portuguese here >>>

The previous government attempted to implement the Nutriscore system in a sort of hidden blitz, knowing it had no consensus. I hope, along with many Portuguese and European citizens, that the new government will reject this measure and firmly oppose a system that endangers the Portuguese agri-food sector and limits consumer choice. 

Nutriscore classifies packaged foods as “healthy” (green light), “harmful” (red light), or intermediate (orange light), to guide consumers towards healthier choices to combat obesity and overweight, which are linked to serious illnesses. Obesity, considered an invisible epidemic, affects over a billion people (expected to be 4 billion by 2035) and could lead to a reduction in life expectancy by 2030, marking the first time in human history.

However, Nutriscore does not seem to effectively contribute to the reduction of obesity and may never succeed, even if universally adopted, much to the dismay of its promoters. The system also risks having very dangerous unintended side effects, beyond failing to reduce obesity incidence. Its simplicity can mislead both consumers and companies, especially in Portugal. Portuguese companies, particularly small and medium-sized ones, will be pushed to alter centuries-old traditional recipes to produce “healthy” foods. Non-Portuguese multinationals, which can rely on very extensive product lines, would benefit, as they can afford to sell both “healthy” and “harmful” foods.

The current government should ensure that Portuguese companies can continue to sell traditional products that have proven to be healthy over the centuries. Citizens do not become obese because of traditional Portuguese culinary products. It is the principles underlying Nutriscore that are flawed. The Nutriscore algorithm, which penalizes sugar, saturated fats, and salt, is scientifically weak and ignores the necessity of nutritional balance, which is a highly individual aspect. Obesity is a complex condition with multiple causes that go beyond diet, including genetics, lifestyle, physical activity, psychology, and socioeconomic factors.

The fight against obesity should include a holistic and personalized approach, focused on consumer education and providing the tools to make informed choices. The traffic light system limits knowledge and does not stimulate critical thinking, presenting a misleading “truth,” established through an algorithm that ends up “betraying” Portuguese tradition.

The current government should avoid the trap of a simplistic solution that favors certain commercial interests at the expense of others, and defend consumers’ right to choose, even if they make mistakes, to learn and improve independently.