Understanding Nutri-Score
TL;DR
Nutri-Score is a front-of-pack label rating food nutritional quality from A (best) to E (worst). It helps you quickly compare products — but it's not the whole story.
What is Nutri-Score?
Nutri-Score is an EU front-of-pack nutrient profiling system developed by Santé Publique France and adopted in several European countries. It grades food products from A (best nutritional quality) to E (worst) based on their nutrient content per 100 grams.
How is it calculated?
The score combines negative points (energy, sugars, saturated fat, salt) with positive points (fruits/vegetables/legumes, fibre, protein). The final letter grade is determined by subtracting positive points from negative points. Lower results get better grades.
Negative points (0–10 each)
Energy (kJ) · Sugars (g) · Saturated fat (g) · Salt (g)
Positive points (0–5 each)
Fruits, vegetables, legumes (%) · Fibre (g) · Protein (g)
What do the grades mean?
- A — Excellent nutritional quality
- B — Good nutritional quality
- C — Average nutritional quality
- D — Poor nutritional quality
- E — Low nutritional quality
Important limitations
Nutri-Score is useful but not perfect. It does not account for the degree of food processing (a diet soda can score B despite being ultra-processed). It's calculated per 100g, which may mislead for products consumed in small amounts (olive oil scores D). It also ignores food additives and their safety profiles.
Why some products show 'UNKNOWN'
When we don't have enough nutritional data to calculate a Nutri-Score, or when the product category isn't applicable (e.g., alcohol), the score is shown as UNKNOWN or NOT-APPLICABLE. This is more honest than guessing.
Our approach
We use Nutri-Score as one of three independent dimensions. We never rely on it alone to judge a product. Our TryVit Score and Processing Risk fill the gaps that Nutri-Score leaves.