Nutrition Expert Advocates Clear Labeling System for Ultra-Processed Foods in Norway

Nutrition expert Marit Kolby is advocating for a clear labeling system for ultra-processed food, suggesting that such items be marked in red, while raw ingredients would receive a green label and processed foods with nutritional value would be yellow. She criticizes the existing Keyhole program, arguing it doesn’t adequately guide consumers towards healthier options within product categories.

Despite increasing calls for clear warnings about ultra-processed foods following new dietary guidelines released in August, the Norwegian Directorate of Health maintains that labeling based on the degree of food processing is not practical. Health Minister Jan Christian Vestre supports this view, insisting that negative labeling for ultra-processed products will not be considered unless it is backed by the Directorate.

Many nutritionists warn that ultra-processed foods may indeed be detrimental to health, contrasting with the Directorate’s stance that sufficient evidence for this claim is lacking. Kolby believes consumers deserve better labeling to enable informed decisions when shopping, expressing frustration over how difficult it is to identify wholesome foods. She points out that approximately 60% of products in grocery stores are ultra-processed.

The Directorate argues that the current labeling system does not correlate food processing with healthiness. Critics, including those who recently abstained from ultra-processed foods, have declared a remarkable health improvement during their month-long trial, suggesting a need for greater awareness around food quality.

While the Health Ministry acknowledges the importance of expert opinions in dietary guidelines, it has not integrated recommendations against ultra-processed foods in its recent updates, citing insufficient evidence of harm.