Methodology · v1.0

One number. One formula. Publicly inspectable.

Name: FoodScore methodology and score dataset
Creator: FoodScore
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

FoodScore rates every food from 0 to 100 using a single deterministic formula grounded in the USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025 and the NIH Dietary Reference Intakes. Same inputs always produce the same score. No editorial bump, no brand influence, no black box.

The 30-second version

Start at 50
Every food begins at a neutral 50. Nothing is 'good' or 'bad' by default.
Add points for what helps
Fiber, plant and animal protein, micronutrients that clear 10% DV, omega-3, a clean fat profile in whole foods, and NOVA 1 or 2 processing status.
Subtract points for what hurts
Added sugar, saturated fat, sodium, trans fat, ultra-processing (NOVA 3 and 4), empty-calorie formulations, and industrially concentrated fat.
Clamp to 0–100
Bonuses cap at +35 total so no fortified product can out-score a naturally nutrient-dense whole food. The final number drops into one of six verdict bands.

Worked example: rolled oats

Here is the math behind a real score, using the nutrient values directly from rolled oats (dry).

0/ 100

Base50Fiber (10.1g)+12Protein (16.9g)+10Micronutrients (Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Zinc)+8Whole food (NOVA 1)+10Bonus cap (+35)-5

Final score85

The rules, in full

Bonuses

cap total +35

Fiber+1.5 per gram above 1g per 100g+12

Protein+1 per gram above 4g per 100g+10

Micronutrients ≥ 10% DV+2 per qualifying nutrient (14 tracked)+12

Omega-3 ≥ 0.5g+5 flat+5

Healthy fat profileNOVA 1–2, ≥8g fat, saturated fat < 35% of total fat+10

Whole food (processing)NOVA 1: +10 · NOVA 2: +8+10

−

Penalties

no total cap

Added sugar−1.5 per gram above 2g per 100g−25

Saturated fat−2 per gram above 3g per 100g−15

Sodium−1 per 150mg above 200mg per 100g−12

Trans fat present−20 flat (any detectable amount)—

Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)−10 flat—

Processed (NOVA 3)−5 flat—

Empty calories−15 if protein + fiber < 2g AND added sugar > 5g—

Concentrated ultra-processed fat−3 if NOVA 4 AND fat ≥ 15g AND saturated fat ≥ 3g—

Verdict bands

0–29

Avoid

30–44

Poor

45–59

Decent

60–74

Good

75–89

Very good

90–100

Excellent

What FoodScore is not

Not a diet plan. We rate 100g of food. Your total diet matters more than any single ingredient's score.
Not personalised. It does not know your allergies, medical conditions, age, or macro targets.
Not a ban list. A 20/100 food eaten occasionally in a balanced diet is not a crisis. A 90/100 food eaten without restraint can still be a problem.
Not a substitute for a registered dietitian. If you have a condition that ties to diet, work with a professional.

How FoodScore differs from other scores

vs. Nutri-Score (EU)

Designed around French / EU nutrition references. FoodScore aligns with US FDA and USDA values (Daily Value, DGA 2020-2025).

vs. Yuka

Yuka weights heavily toward additive count and uses a closed scoring heuristic. FoodScore uses nutrient quantities plus NOVA processing, with every rule published.

vs. EWG Food Scores

EWG uses the 2004 UK Ofcom traffic-light methodology, which is widely criticised as outdated. FoodScore uses current USDA and NIH reference values.

Sources & reproducibility

USDA FoodData Central — Primary nutrient values (Foundation, SR Legacy, Branded datasets)
USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025 — Framework for added sugar, sodium and saturated fat thresholds
NIH Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) — Daily targets for potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus
FDA Daily Values (2016 Nutrition Facts rule) — Reference values for vitamins A, C, D, E, K, B12, folate, riboflavin
NOVA food classification — Four-level processing classification (FAO publication)

Dataset licensed under CC BY 4.0. Found a data issue or a calibration case we missed? See the contact page.