Nutrition plays a major role in the protection of health or risks to health. Poor nutrition contributes to the emergence and development of the most common non-communicable diseases that cause the highest number of deaths, while also putting heavy pressure on social security systems in France and in Europe. These diseases include obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and various forms of cancer. A number of statements from the WHO and conclusions of the Council of the European Union highlight the importance of improving general nutrition. The introduction of nutrition information that is visible, legible, simple and easy to understand, particularly for populations with a low socio-economic status or low education levels, is recommended among one of the many additional collaborative strategies and campaigns helping to achieve this objective. In the same way as the French National Nutrition and Health Programme 2011–2015, the European Food and Nutrition Action Plan 2015–2020 and the EU Action Plan on Childhood Obesity 2014-2020 implemented by the European Commission both recommend such a strategy.

The draft order is issued pursuant to Article 14-II of Law No 2016-41 of 26 January 2016 on the modernisation of our health system and Decree No 2016-980 of 19 July 2016 on additional nutrition information on foods (Articles L3232-8 and R3232-7 of the Public Health Code). These pieces of legislation were drawn up on the basis of Article 35 of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2011 on the provision of food information to consumers. France wants to recommend to food business operators the use of an additional form of expression of the nutrition declaration. Use of this recommended form by operators shall be on a voluntary basis. It would consist of a ‘Nutri-Score’ logo.