Les profils nutritionnels seront-ils utiles pour la santé publique ?

The introduction of nutrient profiles in the health claim regulation is based on the protection of consumer and on the correct functioning of the European market, but it will have impacts as well on the nutritional quality of the food offer as on the relationship of consumers towards foods. The consequences of nutrient profiles for public health are difficult to anticipate but could be analyzed through some questions: their impact on the diet balance, their efficacy for the decrease in the intake of at risk nutrients, the acceptance by consumers of nutritionally improved products, the existence of possible adverse side effects, their possible use in other areas. The results of some researches on these issues confirm the need of a sustained global nutrition-health policy and of the development of adequate assessment tools.