As an alternative to sugar tax… Rep. Heo Seong-mu proposes bill mandating ‘intuitive’ nutrition grade labeling
Rep. Heo Seong-moo announced on the 23rd that he has introduced a bill to amend the Act on Labeling and Advertising of Foods. The legislation would require evaluation and grading of nutritional content in food products, with intuitive labels displayed on packaging. The bill aims to encourage voluntary changes in dietary habits by providing consumers with accurate nutrition grade information, rather than imposing a sugar tax that could burden the public.
According to Heo’s office, current law requires foods such as sugar-added beverages to list nutritional information including calories, sugars, and carbohydrates. However, the sheer volume of information and poor readability of current labeling make it difficult for consumers to assess a product’s health profile at a glance.
The bill was designed to strengthen consumers’ right to know by displaying nutrition grades intuitively. It also seeks to improve convenience in food selection for vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly, creating an environment where healthier options are easily distinguishable.
Key provisions include: designation of nutrition grades and standards by the head of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety; mandatory nutrition grade labeling for children’s favorite foods and other products designated by presidential decree; and business suspensions and fines for non-compliance or violations.
The bill is drawing attention as a practical policy alternative to the sugar tax or sugar surcharge discussion proposed by President Lee Jae-myung via social media in January.
The amendment is modeled on the Nutri-Score system implemented in France and other major European countries.
Nutri-Score, first introduced by France in 2017, visualizes nutritional values using five letter grades from A to E with corresponding colors. The system helps consumers assess a product’s health value at a glance without additional calculations.
According to research by France’s National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), consumers’ probability of choosing higher-rated products (grades A and B) rose by 11% after the system’s introduction. Food companies improved nutritional content, including sugars, by up to 20% to achieve higher grades. Studies also found that groups primarily consuming lower-rated foods faced approximately 10% or higher cancer risk compared to those consuming higher-rated products.
Following France’s success with Nutri-Score, seven countries now operate similar systems, including the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Spain.
“What matters is creating an environment where consumers can judge for themselves what constitutes healthy food,” Heo said. “We will protect public health through a nutrition grading model proven in Europe and promote transparent competition in the food industry.”
He added, “If this system is adopted, it will create new opportunities for companies manufacturing high-quality, eco-friendly food products. I expect this bill to resolve the information asymmetry in food selection.”
