Motivations and strategies underlying the adoption of the front-of-pack labelling scheme Nutri-Score

Abstract   Front-of-pack nutrition labellings (FoPL) have gained traction in the European Union as tools to tackle the burden of nutrition-related chronic diseases. Multiple FoPL have been implemented by both governments and private actors. Under the European food labelling regulation, any FoPL is optional to display, although the legal framework is being revised for a harmonized FoPL to emerge. Since the implementation of the Nutri-Score in France in 2017, little data is available to understand the motivations and strategies underlying the adoption of the FoPL from a food business’ perspective. A cross-sectional study was conducted in March 2021 on food businesses having adopted the Nutri-Score in France through an online questionnaire. In total, 121 businesses completed the questionnaire, representing 32% of companies adopting the scheme and covering a variety of company types. Engaged businesses had a rather healthier portfolio of products according to the Nutri-Score (on average, 69% of engaged products were A or B and 12% were D or E), with disparities between retailers and national brands. Businesses mostly reported their engagement was motivated by a will to be transparent (76%) and to simplify nutritional information (67%) but still 19% reported that they engaged following external pressures. External pressures were more likely to play a role in the engagement if the company engaged in 2020 compared to those engaged before 2018 (P = 0.032), if the company was larger (P = 0.044) and if the scope of engagement included D or E products (poorer nutritional quality) (P = 0.033). Our study showed that the Nutri-Score, as an optional measure, is mainly used by businesses, especially national brands, as a tool to promote rather healthier products, while companies with products of lower nutritional quality are more likely to engage following external pressure. This highlights the relevance of enforcing a mandatory FoPL system, in line with the Farm to Fork strategy. Key messages Nutri-Score led to a selective use of the measure by food businesses, especially national brands, to promote rather healthier products. The relatively low engagement of companies with low nutritional value products highlights the relevance of enforcing a mandatory FoPL system, in line with the Farm to Fork strategy.


Background:
A rise in serogroup C invasive meningococcal disease (IMD-C) led to introduction of MenC vaccination in 2002 in the Netherlands at 14 months of age, accompanied by a masscampaign for all children between 1 and 18 years (coverage 94%). Due to an IMD-W outbreak in 2016-17, the MenC vaccine was replaced by a MenACWY vaccine and an adolescent booster at 14 years was introduced next to a mass campaign for 14-18 year-olds in 2018. Aim/methods: We explored meningococcal antibody status in the Netherlands across the population in 2006-07, 2016-17 and 2020 in consecutive cross-sectional serosurveillance studies. Furthermore, we assessed the vaccine impact and effectiveness of the recent MenACWY vaccination campaign. We determined long-term protection in both adolescents and adults after a MenACWY vaccination and investigated sex-related differences in the vaccine response in adolescents.

Results:
MenC antibody levels were low in 2016-17, except in recently vaccinated toddlers and individuals who were vaccinated as teenagers in 2002. We demonstrated waning of MenC immunity 15 years after the mass campaign and highlighted the lack of meningococcal AWY immunity across the population, which underlined the importance of the recently introduced MenACWY (booster) vaccination. The MenACWY vaccination program was effective in preventing IMD-W in the target population. Long-term protection was achieved for MenC, MenW, and MenY in 94-96% of adolescents five years postvaccination, but in adults only in 32%, 65% and 71% for MenC, W and Y. Adolescent antibody responses were higher in girls than in boys for all serogroups at most timepoints after MenACWY vaccination. The differences in average titers were however small and the percentage of participants with protective titers was very high for both sexes.

Conclusions:
The current meningococcal vaccination policy in the Netherlands provides protection across the population against IMD-ACWY and seems sufficient on the long-term. Key messages: The current meningococcal vaccination policy in the Netherlands provides protection across the population against IMD-ACWY and seems sufficient on the long-term. The current meningococcal vaccination policy in the Netherlands provides protection across the population against IMD-ACWY and seems sufficient on the long-term.

5.S. Food, nutrition and diet
Abstract citation ID: ckac130.099 Motivations and strategies underlying the adoption of the front-of-pack labelling scheme Nutri-Score

Barthelemy Sarda
B Sarda 1 , M Fialon 1 , P Ducrot 3 , AJ Serry 3 , P Galan 1 , E Kesse-Guyot 1 , S Hercberg 1,2 , M Touvier 1 , C Julia 1,2 Front-of-pack nutrition labellings (FoPL) have gained traction in the European Union as tools to tackle the burden of nutrition-related chronic diseases. Multiple FoPL have been implemented by both governments and private actors. Under the European food labelling regulation, any FoPL is optional to display, although the legal framework is being revised for a harmonized FoPL to emerge. Since the implementation of the Nutri-Score in France in 2017, little data is available to understand the motivations and strategies underlying the adoption of the FoPL from a food business' perspective. A cross-sectional study was conducted in March 2021 on food businesses having adopted the Nutri-Score in France through an online questionnaire. In total, 121 businesses completed the questionnaire, representing 32% of companies adopting the scheme and covering a variety of company types. Engaged businesses had a rather healthier portfolio of products according to the Nutri-Score (on average, 69% of engaged products were A or B and 12% were D or E), with disparities between retailers and national brands. Businesses mostly reported their engagement was motivated by a will to be transparent (76%) and to simplify nutritional information (67%) but still 19% reported that they engaged following external pressures. External pressures were more likely to play a role in the engagement if the company engaged in 2020 compared to those engaged before 2018 (P = 0.032), if the company was larger (P = 0.044) and if the scope of engagement included D or E products (poorer nutritional quality) (P = 0.033). Our study showed that the Nutri-Score, as an optional measure, is mainly used by businesses, especially national brands, as a tool to promote rather healthier products, while companies with products of lower nutritional quality are more likely to engage following external pressure. This highlights the relevance of enforcing a mandatory FoPL system, in line with the Farm to Fork strategy. Key messages: Nutri-Score led to a selective use of the measure by food businesses, especially national brands, to promote rather healthier products. The relatively low engagement of companies with low nutritional value products highlights the relevance of enforcing a mandatory FoPL system, in line with the Farm to Fork strategy.