The discounter giant Aldi is introducing a significant change in its own products.
However, the competitor Rewe has long since passed that.
Mühlheim ad Ruhr - recognize at first glance whether a product is healthy or unhealthy.
That is the goal of the so-called "Nutri-Score".
In 2019, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture specified the introduction, in 2020 Julia Klöckner's (CDU) Ministry created the legal basis for the food traffic light.
Now the discounter Aldi has announced that it will gradually introduce the “Nutri-Score” for its own brands.
"Nutri-Score" should show at first glance how healthy a food is
The “Nutri-Score” shows the nutritional value of a food in a five-step color scale from A to E.
Products that contain healthy components such as fiber, protein, vegetables, fruit or nuts are given a better rating.
Unhealthy foods that contain saturated fatty acids, salt and sugar have a bad "Nutri-Score".
The food traffic light helps "to compare products within a category", explains Lars Klein, Managing Director Buying / Customer Interaction at Aldi Süd.
For example, consumers can differentiate between “healthier” and “unhealthy” frozen products.
The label is clearly visible on the front of the food.
Aldi: Food traffic lights should be used for own products
As Aldi announced on Thursday, the “Nutri-Score” is to be gradually printed for the own products of the brands SWEET VALLEY, KING'S CROWN, PIZZ'AH and All Seasons.
For Aldi, the Nutri-Score is "an opportunity to check the recipes of our products again and to optimize them further," notes the company.
The food traffic light is intended to sensitize customers, especially for products from “relevant goods areas” that have a high salt or sugar content.
This includes various canned fruit and vegetables and frozen vegetables as well as pizza.
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Aldi introduces Nutri-Score: But Rewe was faster
The discounter giant is probably reacting to the trend towards healthier nutrition with the food traffic light.
In a report by the Ministry of Food, 91 percent of those surveyed stated that they value healthy food.
An important signal for the large supermarket and discounter chains to adapt their offerings.
There is fierce competition between the retail giants, and Aldi in particular does not want to afford a trend to “oversleep”.
Competitor Rewe got ahead of the discounter giant.
The supermarket chain announced in January that it would use the “Nutri-Score” for its own products.
The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture officially introduced the “Nutri-Score” at the end of 2020.
According to information from "Ökotest", the French food manufacturer Danone rushed ahead in 2019 and put the food traffic light on its own products.
Aldi is one of the proponents of the “Nutri-Score”, but the discounter giant is far from being the first company to actually implement the food traffic light.
The beverage manufacturer Frankenbrunnen also announced in 2019 that it would print the “Nutri-Score” on its own products, writes
foodwatch
.
+
Julia Klöckner (CDU) presents the "Nutri-Score"
© Kay Nietfeld / picture alliance / dpa
"Nutri-Score": A total of 116 manufacturers registered for food traffic lights
As nutrition minister Julia Klöckner announced in mid-February, 116 food manufacturers with 236 brands have registered for the “Nutri-Score” so far.
"The numbers and the popularity are increasing continuously", quoted
AFP
Klöckner.
The use of the food traffic light is voluntary.
Companies can therefore decide whether to print the “Nutri-Score” on their products.
With the food traffic light, the federal government is orienting itself towards its European neighbors;
France, Belgium, Spain, Portugal and Luxembourg have introduced the “Nutri-Score” or are planning to do so, the Netherlands and Switzerland have recognized the effectiveness of the food traffic light, writes the
Hamburg consumer center
.
Even if the "Nutri-Score" is a voluntary offer, more and more companies are implementing the food traffic light.
After Rewe introduced the score at the beginning of the year, Aldi is now following suit.
Probably also in order not to lose the favor of nutrition-conscious customers.
(
jjf / AFP
)
