Nordic Countries Consult on Revised Keyhole Nutrition Labelling Criteria

Authorities in Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Iceland have launched consultations on updated criteria for the Keyholefront-of-pack nutrition labelling scheme. The revision aims to align the voluntary scheme with the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2023 (NNR 2023). The Keyhole symbol identifies products with a healthier nutritional composition within a food category, such as lower salt, sugars and saturated fat and/or higher fibre and whole-grain content.

The most significant proposed change is a tightening of salt thresholds across multiple food categories, reflecting public-health strategies to reduce sodium intake. Other targeted adjustments include stricter fibre and whole-grain requirements for bread, revised methods for calculating whole-grain content, modified saturated-fat criteria for nuts and the inclusion of additional seeds within one category. No new food groups are introduced.

The revised criteria are expected to apply from 2027, with a 1.5-year transition period to allow reformulation and label updates by operators. National public consultations are currently open in Denmark (deadline 2 March 2026), Sweden (23 March 2026) and Norway (24 April 2026).

Following consultation, the draft measures will be notified to the European Commission under the Technical Regulation Information System (TRIS) procedure established by Directive (EU) 2015/1535, which provides a standstill period during which Member States and the Commission may submit comments or objections before adoption.