Un nuevo estudio sobre 129 950 alimentos ha comparado la versión inicial y actualizada del Nutri-Score (información sobre la composición nutricional) con la clasificación NOVA que informa sobre la transformación alimentaria de los alimentos.
Con las dos versiones del Nutri-Score (es decir, inicial y revisada), la gran mayoría de los productos ultraprocesados se clasifican C, D o E, pasando del 77,9 % con la versión inicial al 87,5 % para la versión actualizada del algoritmo
La actualización del algoritmo Nutri-Score ha reducido el número de productos ultraprocesados clasificados A y B y aumentado el número de los clasificados D o E en todas las categorías NOVA. Los alimentos no procesados son los menos afectados y los ultraprocesados los más afectados.
Estos resultados muestran que la actualización del Nutri-Score refuerza su coherencia con la clasificación NOVA, aunque ambos sistemas miden dos dimensiones distintas del valor saludable de los alimentos
Es necesario vincular gráficamente ambas informaciones (proponer añadir al Nutri-Score un reborde negro para los productos ultraprocesados clasificados NOVA4, ha demostrado en un estudio previo ser bien comprendido y con un impacto favorable de los consumidores sobre la selección alimentaria).
ABSTRACT
Objective:
To compare the initial and the updated versions of the front-pf-pack label Nutri-Score (related to the nutritional content) with the NOVA classification (related to the degree of food processing) at the food level.
Design:
Using the OpenFoodFacts database -129,950 food products-, we assessed the complementarity between the Nutri-Score (initial and updated) with the NOVA classification through a correspondence analysis. Contingency tables between the two classification systems were used.
Results:
With both versions (i.e. initial and updated) of the Nutri-Score, the majority of ultra-processed products received medium to poor Nutri-Score ratings (between 77.9% and 87.5% of ultra-processed products depending on the version of the algorithm). Overall, the update of the Nutri-Score algorithm led to a reduction in the number of products rated A and B and an increase in the number of products rated D or E for all NOVA categories, with unprocessed foods being the least impacted (-3.8 percentage points (-5.2%) rated A or B and +1.3 percentage points (+12.9%) rated D or E) and ultra-processed foods the most impacted (-9.8 percentage points (-43.4%) rated A or B and +7.8 percentage points (+14.1%) rated D or E). Among ultra-processed foods rated favourably with the initial Nutri-Score, artificially-sweetened beverages, sweetened plant-based drinks and bread products were the most penalized categories by the revision of Nutri-Score while low-sugar flavoured waters, fruit and legume preparations were the least affected.
Conclusion:
These results indicate that the update of the Nutri-Score reinforces its coherence with the NOVA classification, even though both systems measure two distinct health dimensions at the food level.
NUTRI-SCORE 