Why fresh salmon gets an A-score and smoked salmon a D

It has to do with the Nutri-Score criteria

You've probably already noticed it: the colorful Nutri-Score with its letters ABCDE. It is available on packaging in stores, on the electronic shelf labels and on delhaize.be. Those letters help you quickly and easily compare the nutritional value of similar products. They make it very easy to make a more favourable choice choice without having to go through the nutrition table. Products with a dark green A are recommended. Products with a red E should be limited.

Have you ever wondered why fresh salmon fillet gets an A and smoked salmon a D? Or why unbaked fries get an A score? To find it out, let’s take a closer look at the Nutri-Score criteria.

It's all about balance
They take into account the foodstuffs and nutrients that fit into a balanced diet. The more favourable these are, the better the score.

Nutrients and foodstuffs to promote and to limit Each color or letter tells you about the nutritional value of the product by balancing two categories of nutrients and foodstuffs. On the one hand: dietary fibers, proteins, fruit and vegetables; on the other hand: calories, saturated fatty acids, sugars and salt.

Some examples:

• Delhaize Crunchy Muesli with chocolate, hazelnuts and stevia: A. The recommended nutrients, namely dietary fibers and proteins, weigh more per 100 g than the to limit ones to calculate the Nutri-Score.
• Lean meat, e.g. rumsteak: A, fatty meat, e.g. Irish loin: D. Depending on the saturated fat content, the score may vary from A to D.
• Raw salmon fillet: A, smoked salmon: D. Because smoked salmon contains a lot more salt.
• Ready-made pizzas and lasagnas: from A to D. Pizzas and lasagnas with an A or B-score contain the most vegetables and the least salt.

Pure and unprepared
The Nutri-Score is calculated per 100 gr or 100 ml of the sold product.
The label doesn't take into account the way you prepare the food or the quantity you eat. Think of unbaked fries, which have an A. If they are fried in fat or oil with a higher saturated fat content, they become C. With salt and sauce, they can even get a D or E.

About the Nutri-Score
This score, based on international research and a scientific algorithm, was developed by the French Health Authorities. It was introduced in France in 2017. Delhaize was the first to introduce it in Belgium as from 2018.

Want to find out more?
www.delhaize.be/nutriscore
www.nutriscore.be