Nutri-Score Explained: Read a Label in 10 Seconds

🥗 Radish · 6 min

Standing in a supermarket aisle, nobody wants to compare three nutrition tables side by side. That's exactly why the Nutri-Score exists: a small colour-coded logo, from A (green) to E (dark orange), that sums up a product's nutritional quality at a glance.

Designed to be readable by everyone, it doesn't replace a careful look at the label, but it offers a valuable shortcut when you're shopping in a hurry. In this guide we'll look at what the logo actually measures, how to use it in 10 seconds through concrete examples, and most importantly its limits so you don't fall for the traps. The goal: walk away with one simple, reliable reflex you can use on your very next shopping trip.

What is the Nutri-Score, exactly?

The Nutri-Score is a summary nutrition logo. It ranks foods on a scale of five letters and five colours:

A (dark green): best nutritional quality
B (light green)
C (yellow)
D (orange)
E (dark orange): lowest nutritional quality

The calculation gives negative points for elements to limit (energy, sugars, saturated fat, salt) and positive points for favourable ones (fibre, protein, fruit, vegetables, legumes). The balance gives the letter. It's a comparison tool, not an absolute health score.

Read a label in 10 seconds

The quick method comes down to three moves:

1. Check the letter to place the product (A-B fairly favourable, D-E to go easy on).
2. Compare like with like. A Nutri-Score only makes sense between comparable products: two breakfast cereals together, two pizzas together.
3. Glance at portions. The Nutri-Score is based on 100 g or 100 ml, but you eat a real portion. An A-rated product eaten in large amounts is still calorie-dense.

With this reflex, you settle most choices without reading the whole table.

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Limits worth knowing

The Nutri-Score is useful but imperfect. A few things to watch:

It doesn't measure additives or the degree of processing.
It compares poorly across different categories (olive oil and a drink don't serve the same purpose).
Some whole, healthy foods such as nuts can be penalised for their energy density even though they remain valuable.
It rates the product, not your overall diet, which matters most.

In short: a good starting point, not the final word.

Three real everyday examples

To make this tangible, here's how the reflex works at the supermarket:

Two cereal boxes: one shows an A, the other a D. For similar use, the A is generally the more nutritionally interesting choice, often thanks to more fibre and less sugar.
Two ready meals: a C and an E. The C isn't "perfect", but it's probably lower in salt and saturated fat than the E.
A drink: many sodas land at D or E because of sugar. A sugar-free flavoured water will often rank higher on the scale.

In each case you only compared two products from the same family, in seconds, without a calculator.

The Nutri-Score every day with Radish

To go from logo to action, the easiest thing is to have the Nutri-Score in front of you while you build your meals. In Radish, every food shows its Nutri-Score computed with the revised 2022-2023 algorithm (French decree of 14 March 2025) — the 3 official scales (solid foods, fats/oils, drinks) — making comparison instant without digging out the packaging. And because the app works counting without a connection, with no account and no ads, your food choices stay your own: everything is stored on your phone, and nothing is ever sold. One exception, which you trigger yourself: AI meal analysis sends the meal's text or photo to our provider, after your explicit and revocable consent.

General information, not medical advice.

FAQ

Is a Nutri-Score A product automatically healthy?

Not automatically. An A means good relative nutritional quality within its category, but the amount you eat and your overall dietary balance matter more.

Is the Nutri-Score mandatory?

In France it is currently recommended, not mandatory. An amendment making it mandatory was passed by the National Assembly on 7 November 2025, then rejected by just three votes on 4 December 2025 after an unfavourable Senate vote: Nutri-Score display remains voluntary as of today. New bills have been under discussion since 2026 (see our dedicated article).

Can I compare two different categories?

Best avoided. The Nutri-Score is designed to compare products from the same family, for example two yoghurts together.

The Nutri-Score isn't magic, but it's one of the handiest shortcuts for choosing faster and a little better, as long as you compare like with like and keep an eye on portions. Want it always at hand, without giving up your data? Try Radish, free: the Nutri-Score on every food, fully counting without a connection and private.

General information, not medical advice.

🔎 Methodology & sources. Every nutrition figure in this article is cross-checked against official sources (ANSES, EFSA, WHO, CIQUAL/USDA, French Public Health agency), and health topics are reviewed before publication against our internal reference framework. See our full methodology →