Getting the right formula for front-of-pack nutrition labels

Kerry has launched a tool that is designed to support manufacturers in optimising the nutritional profile of products while being aware of the various front-of-pack regulations.

The KerryNutri Guide can measure food and beverages across a range of front-of-pack nutrition labelling systems and guide the user to a better score.

The online tool is designed to support brands in navigating through the introduction of various rules and regulations, such as taxes and restrictions on products that are high in fat, sugar and salt. It measures the impact of a product that is packaged and ready for the end consumer by calculating energy, saturated fat, sugar, fibre, protein and salt content using data entered by the user. The nutrient score of each input is then displayed, showing areas that are close to or exceeding a regulatory or dietary threshold, and identifying areas for reformulation and innovation.

Speaking on the launch of the product, Albert McQuaid, Global Chief Science and Technology Officer at Kerry, said that the increase in nutrition restrictions and tax implementations is the most significant in history. Over 40 countries use front-of-pack nutrition labels, which may be challenging for companies with products across multiple markets.

“It can be incredibly challenging for companies who sell products into multiple countries to understand exactly how these labelling systems will appear on their product. Using KerryNutri Guide, we can innovate with customers to create products that meet challenges such as sugar taxes, sodium reduction targets, and comprehensive nutritional profile models,” McQuaid said.

“We have a broad range of technologies that can support reformulation as well as leading insights to support manufacturers in a challenging environment.”

As regulations vary globally, KerryNutri can provide regional insights and uses the data to replicate on-pack labels used in the European Union, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. It will, for example, show the HFSS score of the product for the UK market while displaying what sugar taxes apply for each region for beverages. It can also simulate which nutritional claims may be made on-pack, and whether the product is low in fat, sugar, salt or is a source of fibre or protein.