How grading works
Every product is graded on what's actually in it — not marketing, not opinion. We evaluate three things: ingredient safety (position-weighted tier analysis of every ingredient on the label), nutrition profile (macronutrients, NOVA processing level and additive risk), and published research as a bounded confidence modifier. Ingredients and nutrition drive the grade; research adds or subtracts a limited amount of confidence.
The letter grades
A single, at-a-glance letter for overall product quality — driven by ingredient safety, nutrition and processing level, from A (cleanest, best nutrition) to F.
How the grade is built
The grade combines three inputs. Nutrition score evaluates macronutrient balance, NOVA processing level, and additive risk. Ingredient cleanliness runs a position-weighted tier analysis: each ingredient is classified into a safety tier, and ingredients listed earlier on the label (present in greater quantity) carry more weight. Research modifier searches published peer-reviewed papers for each ingredient and adjusts the score within a bounded range (up to +12 or −8 points) — adding confidence when studies support an ingredient, or flagging concern when they don't.
We don't publish the exact formula — but the principle never changes: ingredients, nutrition and processing drive the grade, while research refines it.
Grades do not account for how ingredients interact in combination, and they are not medical advice.
Formulation details
Alongside the grade we surface product details — vegan/vegetarian status, organic or third-party tested labels, and any fillers, artificial colors, sweeteners, or other additives. These details help you compare products at a glance and apply your own preferences.
Where the data comes from
- · Ingredient safety & nutrition: ingredient classifications, NOVA processing levels, and macronutrient data from trusted public and regulatory databases.
- · Research evidence: the Ingrede research database of peer-reviewed papers, used as a supplementary confidence modifier for each ingredient.
- · Product & label data: a range of trusted public, government, and community-maintained databases covering supplement labels, foods, and packaged goods.
- · Community contributions: products and labels added by Ingrede users when an item isn't yet in a public database.
When you scan a product we identify it across these sources, grade every ingredient for safety and nutrition, and apply a bounded research modifier where published evidence is available.
Our independence
- · A grade is determined by what's in the product — a brand can never pay to change its grade or its ranking.
- · We grade ingredient safety, nutrition and processing — we never declare a product good, bad, or its marketing false.
- · Any commercial placement, if shown, is always labelled and kept entirely separate from how a product is scored.
- · Grades update automatically as new research is published.
- · Your scans and preferences stay on your device; we don't require an account.