Key Facts
- →Health Grade starts at 100 and loses points for each flag triggered
- →Transparency Index scores separately — a product can be safe but secretive
- →Both scores are AI-generated — always verify with your own research
Health Grade (0–100 → A–F)
The health score starts at 100. Points are deducted for each flag triggered: high-risk chemicals like BHA or BHT deduct 20 points each; Red-tier sugar clustering (5+ aliases) deducts 25 points; each synthetic dye deducts 15 points; GMO ingredients deduct 10 points; natural flavor with vegan or allergen conflict deducts 10 points. The final score maps to a letter: A (90–100), B (80–89), C (70–79), D (60–69), F (below 60). The grade reflects ingredient risk level, not nutritional quality.
Transparency Index (0–100)
Separately from safety, we score how openly the manufacturer discloses what's in the product. Starting from 100: each use of 'Natural Flavor' deducts 15 points; 'Spices' or 'Seasonings' deducts 10 points each; 'Proprietary blend' deducts 20 points; any catch-all term ('other ingredients,' 'artificial flavors') deducts 5–10 points. A product can be healthy but secretive (high Health Grade, low Transparency), or risky but transparent (low Health Grade, high Transparency).
What We Don't Score Yet
Our current scoring covers the six main flag categories: sugar fragmentation, synthetic dyes, GMO ingredients, natural flavor opacity, allergens, and high-risk preservatives. We do not yet score macro nutrition (calories, saturated fat, sodium content), serving size manipulation, or misleading health claims on packaging. These will be incorporated in future phases as the product evolves.
Important Disclaimer
All scores are generated by AI and are intended for informational purposes only. They should not be used as medical or dietary advice. The scanner reflects ingredient risk based on current research — science evolves, and ingredients that appear safe today may be understood differently in the future. Always consult a healthcare professional for dietary decisions related to specific health conditions.