ROME, FEBRUARY 15 – “The Italian agri-food has always been highly appreciated for its extraordinary quality and known for its sustainability and biodiversity protection. It incorporates research, technological innovation, respect for territory and tradition”, the Secretary General of the Farnesina, Ambassador Ettore Francesco Sequi, during an event organizsed to present the “Nutrinform Battery” nutritional labelling system, proposed by Italy as part of the negotiations to harmonize the European Union’s food labelling system.
The event was organised in Rome in cooperation with Federalimentare, the body representing the Italian food and beverages industry. It brought together representatives of the diplomatic and political communities, the institutions, the industrial sector and the academic world.
“Through Nutrinform Battery we aim at facilitating the understanding of energy and nutritional contribution of food on the basis of scientifically based elements and effective and non-discriminatory criteria, without misleading the consumer”, said the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Luigi Di Maio, followed by the Minister for Agricultural Policy, Stefano Patuanelli, the Minister for Health, Roberto Speranza, and the President of Federalimentare, Ivan Vacondio. The Minister for Economic Development, Giancarlo Giorgetti, joined the event remotely, while Undersecretary of State Vincenzo Amendola gave the closing remarks.
Nutrinform Battery, a non-discriminatory system based on objective, manipulation-proof data, is the food labelling system supported by Italy in the EU negotiations as an alternative to the Nutriscore traffic-light system. “Nutrinform is a non-discriminatory system based on objective, manipulation-proof data. The information is used to measure the nutritional value of people’s overall diet, rather than different categories of food. This makes it an important tool to encourage more informed choices by consumers and more responsible behaviour by producers. It also respects the unique features of the Mediterranean Diet, which enjoys UNESCO Intangible World Heritage status, and traditional diets”, the Italian Ministry said on its website. (@OnuItalia)
