The impact of diet on cardiovascular health is considerable: 30% of deaths due to these diseases are attributable to diet.
This is why, since 2017, the Nutri-score has helped consumers eat better by selecting products that are less sweet, less fatty, less salty, etc. On the packaging, five letters, five colors. From “A-dark green” (for high nutritional quality) to “E-dark orange” (for the least nutritionally good products).
The effectiveness of this Nutri-Score is no longer in doubt. More than 140 international scientific publications have demonstrated its validity in characterizing the nutritional quality of foods and its positive impact on consumer choices.
A reduction in the risk of heart attack and stroke
French researchers* have taken an interest in the 2024 version which is to be gradually adopted. An update to further help consumers.
The idea is to review the calculation methods. For drinks, for example, the presence of sweeteners is now taken into account in order to prevent manufacturers from using these additives instead of sugar to improve the rating of their products. Diet sodas containing sweeteners will no longer be rated B, but from C to E.
The scientists therefore used this updated version and studied the records of more than 345,000 participants from the EPIC (European prospective investigation into cancer and nutrition) cohort.
Among them, more than 16,000 developed cardiovascular disease, including 6,565 myocardial infarctions and 6,245 strokes.
“The results clearly show that people who consumed on average more of the lower-rated foods had an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, particularly heart attacks and strokes. “, note the authors of the study, the results of which were published on September 11 in the Lancet Regional Health-Europe.
Mélanie Deschasaux-Tanguy, Inserm research officer, emphasizes that ” These results confirm the relevance of the Nutri-Score as a public health tool to guide consumers in their food choices with a view to preventing chronic diseases. »
Please note : This nutritional labeling unfortunately remains optional and relies on the voluntary participation of agri-food companies.
* Nutritional Epidemiology Research Team (CRESS-EREN), a joint team from Inserm, INRAE, Cnam, Sorbonne Paris Nord University and Paris Cité University, in collaboration with researchers from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO-IARC)
