On January 14, 2025, a column signed by 36 nutritionists and public health experts, including Serge Hercberg, creator of Nutri-Score, shook the food industry. The subject of the debate: Danone’s flagship products, such as Actimel, Danonino or HiPro, denounced for sugar contents considered excessive, despite attractive health claims. In the background, the controversial removal of the Nutri-Score on these products.
The accusations made against Danone: why did you remove Nutriscore?
In September 2024, Danone makes a major decision: remove the Nutri-Score from its flagship products like Actimel and Danonino. This choice comes after the Nutri-Score calculation algorithm was modified to reclassify certain product categories.
- Why this change?
The algorithm reviews the classification of sweet products as drinks rather than dairy desserts. Result: fruit Actimel, initially rated B, drops to D, or even E for certain ranges. The more popular plain versions without added sugars retain a B grade. - The implications for consumers
By removing the Nutri-Score, Danone deprives consumers of an essential tool to quickly assess the nutritional quality of its products. According to Serge Hercberg, this withdrawal is an attempt to hide high levels of added sugars, which are particularly poorly rated.
| Product | Initial rating | Revised rating | Sugar content (g/100 ml) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Actimel nature | A | B | 4,0 |
| Actimel fruit | B | D | 10.8 to 11.9 |
| HiPro | B | D | 9,5 |
nutriscore label © wwwebmeister
Products that are too sweet, comparable to soda
The harshest criticisms of certain Danone products concern the sugar content of drinking yogurts. Nutritionists, in the forum, point to a concentration of sugars that is often higher than that of sodas. With up to 11.9 g of sugar per 100 mlsome Actimel with fruits exceed the 10 g/100 ml Coca-Cola. In comparison, other drinks like Capri-Sun and Oasis contain between 7 and 10g/100ml.
These quantities of added sugars directly contribute to increased risks of diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases, particularly among young consumers targeted by these products. However, Danone continues to promote them as health allies, highlighting their probiotics, vitamin D, and calcium. This communication is described as misleading by the UFC-Que Choisir, which recalls that the claimed benefits do not compensate for the deleterious effects of added sugars.
Danone’s defense: challenge the Nutriscore
Danone defends itself by asserting that its products are dairy desserts and not drinks. According to the company, their yogurt drinks should be consumed as part of meals and not as hydrating substitutes, as is the case with soda.
« The vast majority of our consumers use drinking yogurt as a dessert. The first substitute for an Actimel is therefore a spoonful of yogurt and not a glass of coke, as Professor Hercberg implies. It is this interpretation that poses a problem to us, not the nutritional display itself », explains Danone interviewed by RMC Conso.
- The arguments put forward by Danone
- The products contain proteins a you calciumessential for a balanced diet.
- The lactose present, a natural milk sugar, represents a significant part of the total sugars.
- The products are recommended at a rate of two servings per day by nutritional authorities.
Nutritionists reject this classification. Serge Hercberg considers these products to be en-cas or snacksoften consumed outside of meals, which increases daily calorie intake insidiously.
Read also
Why you shouldn’t eat sugar before 1 p.m.
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