The Packaging Jungle
Hand on heart: how often do you buy a product just because of the pretty packaging or the promise "natural" and "fit"? The front of a package is pure marketing. The truth lies – often in fine print – on the back. Anyone who wants to eat healthily and consciously cannot avoid learning how to read labels.
The good news: since 2024, there have been new EU regulations intended to provide more transparency. But there are still tricks and gaps you should know to make informed decisions.
Decoding the Ingredient List
The ingredient list is your most honest friend in the supermarket. A simple rule applies here: what comes first is what there's most of. Ingredients must be listed in descending order of their weight proportion.
Is sugar in first or second place? Then the product is more of a sweet than a meal. Another important point is **allergens**. They must be highlighted (e.g., in bold) so you can see at a glance if gluten, soy, or nuts are included.
💡 Did You Know?
If a product consists of only one ingredient (e.g., milk, fresh fruit), no ingredient list needs to be given. The shorter the list for processed products, the better the quality usually.
Nutri-Score 2.0: What's New?
Perhaps you've noticed that some products suddenly have a worse Nutri-Score than before. This is due to the new calculation method that has applied since late 2023.
The algorithm has become stricter:
- **Sugar and Salt:** Weighted more heavily negative.
- **Fiber:** More fiber is needed for a positive rating.
- **Drinks:** Sweeteners now have a negative effect; water remains the only drink with an A.
Unsure about your food?
Our Health-Wellness Assistant can analyze ingredients and tell you what is really healthy for you.
Ask the AssistantRecognizing Hidden Traps
The industry is creative when it comes to concealing unhealthy ingredients. A classic is sugar. It hides behind many names: dextrose, glucose syrup, maltodextrin, barley malt extract, or fruit sweetness. "No added sugar" often only means that no white household sugar was added – the product can still be full of fruit sugar.
Where Does My Food Come From?
Transparency regarding origin is becoming increasingly important. Since 2024, the country of origin must be indicated for unpackaged meat at the counter. From 2025, this will also apply to many types of fruit and vegetables.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, not all E-numbers are bad. E300 is simple vitamin C, E100 is turmeric. Concerns are more about preservatives, dyes, or flavor enhancers.