The Nutriscore: An Outdated Solution Ignoring the Complexity of Obesity – Affari Italiani
My commentary, published on Affari Italiani, critiques the Nutriscore as an ineffective and harmful tool for addressing obesity and non-communicable diseases. Marketed as a simple and universal solution, Nutriscore fails to acknowledge the individual complexities behind obesity and its ethical and social implications.
You can read the full piece on Affari Italiani >>> or a summary below.
The Nutriscore: An Outdated Solution Ignoring the Complexity of Obesity
The Nutriscore, based on a traffic-light system, presents a static and reductive view of science, limiting consumer choice and encouraging the standardization of food products. Studies in its favor fail to show any tangible impact on health or longevity, instead highlighting the risk of dietary monotony that could lead to nutritional deficiencies. Furthermore, the system disregards the importance of individual diversity and culinary traditions, threatening food variety and pressuring companies to reformulate products to comply with its algorithm.
MY HEARING AT THE ITALIAN SENATE
The commentary suggests an alternative approach: personalized nutrition supported by technology. Tools like artificial intelligence, genetics, and connected devices now allow real-time monitoring of individual parameters, providing tailored dietary recommendations and promoting a balanced lifestyle. In this context, the Mediterranean Diet emerges as the ideal solution: more than a dietary plan, it is a way of life that combines balance and moderation, offering sustainable strategies to combat obesity.
The central message is clear: educating consumers to develop critical knowledge and promoting freedom of choice is essential for a healthier, more informed society. The Nutriscore, in contrast, risks undermining these freedoms by dangerously oversimplifying a complex issue.
