The same product can appear to move from B to C without any recipe change. Conversely, an oil may improve by one grade while remaining calorie-dense. Neither result means the food suddenly changed nor automatically indicates an error: the comparison rule changed. To interpret the transition correctly, separate three milestones—the scientific work, the effective date, and packaging updates—then examine which food categories were actually recalibrated.
Put the updated Nutri-Score in context with the Nova classification
1. The algorithm changed, but the logo’s basic principle did not
The transnational Nutri-Score scientific committee published proposals for solid foods in 2022, followed by a beverage-specific report in 2023. Its stated goals were to distinguish products more effectively, align the algorithm more closely with dietary guidelines, and account for changes in the food supply. Scientific committee, 2022 — update to the solid-food algorithm, Scientific committee, 2023 — update to the beverage algorithm
The logo retains five grades from A to E, calculation per 100 g or 100 mL, and the balance between unfavorable and favorable components. The revision mainly changes the point scales, certain offsetting rules, and several category-specific cases.
It would therefore be excessive to say that “the entire Nutri-Score changed.” Calling it a merely visual update would also be wrong: the revised thresholds can move a substantial share of products even when their composition stays the same.
2. In France, the updated algorithm took effect on March 16, 2025
The March 14, 2025 decree was published in France’s Official Journal and took effect on March 16. It repealed the French rules from 2017 and 2019 and established the tables for the updated method. Brands that use the logo must follow the corresponding terms of use. Légifrance — March 14, 2025 decree effective March 16, Public Health France — signing and effective date of the updated decree
The timeline was not identical in every participating country. Several European partners began applying the updated algorithm in 2024. For readers in France, however, the March 2025 French decree determines the applicable official version.
Nutri-Score remains voluntary. The revision did not make the logo mandatory, and as of July 26, 2026, the European Union had not adopted one mandatory front-of-pack label.
3. A two-year transition explains conflicting package labels
Public Health France states that companies already using Nutri-Score have two years to update their packaging. It also estimates that 30–40% of products will change grade. During that period, old and updated grades may appear side by side on store shelves. Public Health France, 2026 — evaluation of the updated Nutri-Score campaign
This coexistence does not necessarily mean that manufacturers are applying rules arbitrarily. A package printed before the update may still be in circulation while a newer one shows the revised result. The deadline also depends on when the brand joined the system and the applicable terms of use.
Before assuming an error, compare the ingredient list, nutrition facts, packaging date, and information published by the brand. If the formulation changed at the same time as the algorithm, you cannot attribute the grade difference to one cause without performing both complete calculations.
4. Sugar, salt, fiber, and protein now separate products more clearly
The general scale now assigns up to 15 points for sugar and 20 for salt, while energy and saturated fat each reach 10. Thresholds for fiber and protein were also raised. The intended result is stricter grading of many sweet or salty products and clearer differentiation of foods that are genuinely high in fiber. Légifrance — updated N and P scales for the general algorithm, Public Health France — overview of the update’s effects
Whole-grain foods can therefore be distinguished more clearly from refined counterparts when their fiber content crosses the new thresholds. Conversely, adding a small amount of fiber is not enough to neutralize a profile that is very high in sugar or salt.
Nutri-Score still does not directly distinguish added sugar from naturally occurring sugar within its general component. The revised scale improves quantitative differentiation without resolving every question about sugar source, food matrix, or formulation.
5. Protein can no longer offset as many points for red meat
Under the updated algorithm, protein points for red meat and products made from it are capped at 2 instead of the general maximum of 7. The scientific report explains that this change was intended to align the profile more closely with recommendations to limit red-meat intake. Légifrance — protein-point cap for red meat, Scientific committee, 2022 — rationale for category-specific adaptations
This rule does not imply that red meat contains no protein or that one serving is toxic. It limits how much protein can offset unfavorable points within an indicator designed to guide general food choices.
Fatty fish are not penalized in the same way for their fat content because the unfavorable components concern saturated fat and energy, not all fat as one category. The exact result still depends on the complete nutrient profile and cannot be inferred from the food name alone.
6. Oils and fats are differentiated more clearly
Added fats, nuts, and seeds now use a scale that notably considers energy from saturated fatty acids and the ratio of saturated fat to total fat. The scientific committee sought to reflect differences in fat quality more clearly instead of placing nearly all products in the same grades. Scientific committee, 2022 — revised treatment of fats, nuts, and seeds, Légifrance — category-specific scales and grade thresholds
Olive, canola, and walnut oils can therefore receive a B under the updated method. Their energy content has not fallen; the scale now distinguishes their fatty-acid profiles more effectively. Serving size remains essential when interpreting calorie intake.
Moving from C to B does not turn an oil into something to consume without limits. It means that within the scale designed for fats, its profile is more favorable than several alternatives higher in saturated fat.
7. Beverages change categories, and sweeteners now matter
The updated algorithm classifies milk, dairy beverages, drinkable yogurt, and plant-based drinks as beverages. Water remains the only beverage eligible for an A. Other drinks receive grades from B to E under a more detailed scale for energy and sugar. Scientific committee, 2023 — scope and beverage scale, Légifrance — official beverage calculation
The presence of specified sweeteners adds four unfavorable N points. Sweetened beverages can therefore no longer receive the same advantage simply because they contain little sugar and energy; depending on the formula, they receive a grade from C to E.
This penalty is a nutritional-profiling choice intended to guide consumption. It is neither a toxicological measurement of each sweetener nor proof that one can causes disease. Assessing a substance’s safety and grading a beverage’s nutritional profile answer different questions.
8. What the revision did not add to Nutri-Score
The updated calculation is not a classification of processing level. It generally does not count additives, score environmental impact, measure price, or directly account for the serving actually eaten.
An ultra-processed product can therefore retain a favorable nutritional profile under the calculated criteria, while a minimally processed, energy-dense food may remain C or D. Those results are not necessarily contradictory: the tools assess different dimensions.
The revision aims for better consistency with several dietary guidelines, but no summary indicator can capture every property of a food. Judge the tool by whether its updated formula compares nutritional profiles better than before, not by whether it now answers every health question.
9. The revision also drew public reservations
When the decree was signed, several ministers called for continuous improvement and attention to possible unintended effects, particularly for products associated with French culinary traditions. That political reservation is documented, but it neither removed the updated formula from the decree nor created a blanket exception for traditional products. French Ministry of Agriculture — signing with a request for continuous improvement
Tradition, a protected name, or a single-ingredient formulation does not guarantee a favorable grade because the logo summarizes composition per 100 g. Conversely, an unfavorable grade alone does not make a food incompatible with a balanced diet. Frequency and amount still matter.
Controversies should be described precisely: disagreement over one category, scientific criticism, a company’s withdrawal, and a legal dispute are not the same event. The reliability guide examines the evidence and ongoing litigation separately.
10. How to read a new grade without rebuilding your entire diet
If a product receives a worse grade, first check whether its recipe changed. If the formulation is identical, determine which part of the revision may explain the difference: sugar, salt, fiber, protein, red meat, beverage classification, or fat. Then compare alternatives used for the same purpose under the same algorithm version.
Do not automatically eliminate every D or E food, and do not consume a product without limits because it moved to B. Consider the amount and frequency, then the entire day: energy, protein, fiber, sugar, salt, variety, and processing. The logo structures a comparison; it does not prescribe your menu.
- Date: the updated French calculation has been in effect since March 16, 2025.
- Transition: two years for companies already using the logo.
- Scope: Public Health France estimates that 30–40% of products will change grade.
- Main drivers: sugar, salt, fiber, protein, and category-specific rules.
- Beverages: only water can receive an A, milk is classified differently, and certain sweeteners receive a penalty.
- Limitation: processing level is not assessed as an overall dimension.
Frequently asked questions about the new Nutri-Score
When did the new Nutri-Score come into force in France?
The decree was signed on March 14, 2025, and the updated method took effect on March 16, 2025. Companies already using the logo have two years to update their packaging.
Why did my product’s Nutri-Score change when the recipe did not?
Thresholds for sugar, salt, fiber, and protein changed, as did the rules for several categories. The same recipe can therefore receive a different numerical score and grade under the updated algorithm.
How many products will change grades?
Public Health France estimates that 30–40% of products will change grade. This is an overall estimate, not a prediction that every category will change by the same amount.
Why do two identical packages display two different letters?
Old and updated versions may coexist during the two-year transition. Check for a possible recipe change as well. Without the date, composition, and algorithm version, you cannot attribute the difference with certainty.
What is the new Nutri-Score for olive oil?
The updated scale allows olive oil, like canola and walnut oils, to receive a B. This better reflects its fatty-acid profile without changing its energy density or making serving size irrelevant.
Why might sugar-free drinks be ranked lower?
The presence of specified sweeteners adds four unfavorable points under the updated beverage scale. A sweetened drink may therefore receive a C through E even with little sugar. This rule is not an individual toxicological assessment.
Does the new Nutri-Score take ultra-processed foods into account?
No, not as an overall dimension. It calculates a defined nutritional profile. Formulation and processing level require an additional assessment, for example using the principles of the Nova classification.
Has the new Nutri-Score become mandatory?
No. Its use remains voluntary in France as of July 26, 2026. Participating brands must still follow the updated method and terms of use during the transition.
Sources and references
- Légifrance — decree of March 14, 2025 and algorithm in force
- Nutri-Score Scientific Committee, 2022 — update for solid foods
- Nutri-Score Scientific Committee, 2023 — update for beverages
- Public Health France — signing of the decree and main changes
- Public Health France, 2026 — evaluation of the 2025 Nutri-Score campaign
- French Ministry of Agriculture — signing and request for continuous improvement
- Public Health France — Nutri-Score governance and European timeline