Albert Heijn, the largest supermarket chain in the Netherlands, is to introduce the Nutri-Score food labelling system in its stores.
The voluntary labels use a ‘traffic light’ colour-coding scale from A to E to reflect the nutritional value of products. It indicates the content of sugars, saturated fatty acids, salt and calories.
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Albert Heijn, part of retail giant Ahold Delhaize, said it is introducing the system to “make it easier for all consumers to make a healthy choice”.
It added: “This logo indicates at a glance with a colour and letter code which products within a product group are healthier than others.”
Albert Heijn said that it will start using the labels after the summer, initially on its own-label products sold online so it can gauge customer reaction.
Following this it will start using the label on product categories in its stores, such as dairy and breakfast products. just-food has sought to clarify whether this will again be solely on own-label products.
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By GlobalDataIts sister chain in Belgium, Delhaize, already uses the system and Albert Heijn said it has had “positive experiences”.
Anita Scholte op Reimer, head of quality and sustainability at Albert Heijn, said: “Albert Heijn has looked at various systems and is in favour of the French Nutri- Score. This logo informs customers in a thorough, clear and complete way at a glance about the nutritional values ??of the product.”
France first adopted the system in 2017, followed by companies in Belgium and Spain.
Last month, a business unit of UK-based frozen food manufacturer Nomad Foods was prevented from using the system on its products in Germany.
