How we score food
Every product grade in PlateWise is calculated by a fixed formula from a product's ingredient list. The same ingredients always produce the same score. No brand pays to be rated, and no brand can request a change.
The 100 points
A score starts at zero and earns points across three components.
| Component | Worth | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Nutrition | 60 | Refined grains, added sugars and filler starches each cost points. |
| Additives | 30 | Full marks with none flagged. High-risk additives remove all 30. |
| Organic | 10 | Awarded for certified organic products. |
The caps
Components alone would let a product with a hazardous ingredient score well on the strength of everything else. So two ceilings override the total:
- Any high-risk additive — the score cannot exceed 25.
- Any moderate-risk additive — the score cannot exceed 49.
This is why a product can show strong components and still grade poorly. When that happens we say so on the product itself.
Grades
A
75–100
Excellent
B
50–74
Good
C
25–49
Poor
D
0–24
Bad
The additive list
We check ingredient lists against 58 additives across 21 categories — artificial dyes, preservatives, trans fats, artificial sweeteners, flour treatments and others. Each is rated high, moderate or low risk: 13 high, 19 moderate, 26 low.
Ratings draw on regulatory decisions and published research — for example, additives restricted or banned in the EU, and substances classified by IARC. Every flagged ingredient on a product shows the specific reason it was flagged.
Where this falls short
- • Scores are computed from ingredient lists, not laboratory analysis. An ingredient list tells you what is present, not how much.
- • Ingredient data comes from Open Food Facts and can be out of date or incomplete. Always check the physical label.
- • A grade reflects our weighting of processing and additives. It is not a measure of calories, portion size, or whether a food suits your particular diet.
- • Risk ratings reflect current evidence and regulatory positions, which change. We update the list as they do.
Not medical advice
PlateWise grades are informational and reflect our published methodology. They are not medical, dietary or nutritional advice, and they are not a substitute for guidance from a qualified professional. If you have a health condition, allergy, or specific dietary requirement, rely on the product label and your clinician rather than this score.
Independence
We take no money from food manufacturers. Brands cannot pay for a higher grade, pay to be featured, or pay to have a product removed. There is no advertising in PlateWise. The grade you see is the grade the formula produced.
Spotted something wrong? Methodology corrections are welcome — the formula is meant to be argued with.