How we score food
Every product gets a score from 0 to 100. Higher is better. The method is the same for every product and every country, and everything that affects the score is listed on this page.
The formula
Score = 50% processing + 30% additives + 20% nutrition. When nutrition facts are missing, the score uses 60% processing and 40% additives instead. Some conditions then cap the score, as shown below.
Processing × 50% + Additives × 30% + Nutrition × 20%
1. Processing (50%)
We use the NOVA classification, developed at the University of São Paulo, which sorts foods by how much industrial processing they went through. When Open Food Facts has a NOVA group we use it; otherwise we estimate it from the ingredients. Each seed or refined oil and each ultra-processing marker (flavourings, glucose syrups, protein isolates, hydrogenated fats and similar) removes a further 5 points.
| NOVA group | Processing points |
|---|---|
| NOVA 1 · Unprocessed or minimally processed | 100 |
| NOVA 2 · Processed culinary ingredient | 85 |
| NOVA 3 · Processed food | 70 |
| NOVA 4 · Ultra-processed | 10 |
2. Additives (30%)
Every additive starts from 100 points and loses points according to its risk level. Risk levels are our summary of the evidence from regulators (EFSA, FDA), the WHO's cancer agency (IARC) and peer-reviewed studies. Each additive page explains its rating.
| Risk level | Points removed |
|---|---|
| No known risk | −0 |
| Low concern | −5 |
| Moderate concern | −15 |
| High concern | −35 |
3. Nutrition (20%)
We use the UK Food Standards Agency's front-of-pack thresholds for fat, saturates, sugars and salt per 100 g (drinks per 100 ml). Each high (red) value removes 25 points and each medium (amber) value removes 10. Foods with at least 6 g of fibre per 100 g get 5 points back.
| Nutrient | Medium above | High above | Drinks: high above |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fat | 3 g | 17.5 g | 8.75 g |
| Saturates | 1.5 g | 5 g | 2.5 g |
| Sugars | 5 g | 22.5 g | 11.25 g |
| Salt | 0.3 g | 1.5 g | 0.75 g |
4. Score caps
Some products can't be a good choice however they score elsewhere, so we cap them:
| Condition | Maximum score |
|---|---|
| Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) | 49 |
| Contains a high-concern additive | 49 |
| One nutrient is high | 74 |
| Two nutrients are high | 39 |
| Three or more nutrients are high | 24 |
Where the data comes from
Product data comes from Open Food Facts, a non-profit database of more than 3 million products built by volunteers. Data is available under the Open Database License. If a product's data is wrong, anyone can fix it on Open Food Facts and our page updates within a day.
Limits
- Scores depend on the data on the label. Missing or wrong data gives a less reliable score, and we say so on the page.
- We don't measure pesticides, heavy metals or microplastics. No public database has this per product, so we don't estimate it.
- A score compares products. It is not medical advice and doesn't replace advice from a doctor or dietitian.