Food origin: government initiative will eventually be called “Origin-info”

The idea was put forward at the height of the agricultural crisis under the name “Origin Score”. The government said on Wednesday that the approach, which aims to create an indicator of the origin of food, will be called “Origin-Info”. The initiative has received unanimous support from stakeholders and specifications are due to be finalized by May 1st.

“We decided that we would call this approach Origine-Info, which aims to provide neutral and objective information about the origin of food,” said Olivia Gregoire, minister delegate responsible for business, tourism and consumption, during the call. press briefing. This approach differs from Nutri-score in that “nutrient intakes are classified on a scientific basis,” which “cannot be transferred to origin at all, especially if you intend to take it to a European level,” noted Olivia Gregoire.

Meeting with key stakeholders

This speech followed a meeting with representatives of mass distributors, agribusinesses and consumer associations on the issue of transparency of the origin of ingredients in processed foods, held this Wednesday in Bercy. The Anti-Fraud Services (DGCCRF) was also represented.

Olivia Gregoire was pleased to note the “unanimously positive reception from the stakeholders present” as this would be a purely voluntary approach to remain within European law. “Between May 1 and 1st, we will be working to expand the proposed specifications” to determine the degree of accuracy of information about the origin of the products included in the formulation, or even where this information will be available on packaging or online.

Professionals will also pre-select a logo to represent this information, which will then be presented to consumers, Olivia Gregoire explained. Amid the crisis in the agricultural sector, French farmers took to supermarkets to protest against some products of foreign origin.