How Nutly evaluates food ingredients
Nutly’s score helps you read a label by combining ingredient and nutrition data. It is Nutly’s own scale, not an official EFSA assessment, Nutri-Score or a prediction of your health risk.
What goes into the score out of 100
65%
Ingredients and additives
35%
Nutrition
When nutrition data is available, the two components are combined using these weights. Separate rules can cap the result, for example for additives in the highest risk tier, sugary drinks or missing important data. The simple weighted sum therefore does not always equal the final score.
Label and catalogue data
Nutly uses text recognised from label photos and catalogue data, including Open Food Facts. The source appears beside the product name. Recognition and catalogue records can contain errors or outdated ingredients. The public catalogue shows products that pass data completeness and quality checks; this is not laboratory testing of the product.
Ingredients and additives
Nutly matches names and E numbers against its additive registry and considers certain ingredients, combinations and product categories. Position in the list affects an ingredient’s weight but does not establish its exact quantity. An ambiguous name should not be treated as confirmation of a specific substance. Explanations and available research links appear in the additive details.
Nutrition
Amounts are compared per 100 g of food or 100 ml of a drink. Colour bands for fat, saturated fat, sugars and salt use UK nutrition labelling thresholds. Nutly separately applies its own penalties and considers energy and potential contributions from fibre and protein. A missing value means unknown, not zero.
What the score cannot establish
The number does not measure the probability of illness or guarantee safety. Labels usually do not state each additive’s concentration; portion size, frequency and individual circumstances also matter. The public score does not use your health profile. Personal explanations in the app are a separate feature. Always check the actual label for allergy decisions.
Updates and corrections
A score can change when ingredients, nutrition data or calculation rules are updated. If the data differs from the packaging, report the error in the app or contact support with the barcode and a description of the discrepancy.
Sources and responsibility for the score
EFSA publishes scientific assessments of food additives; official UK guidance describes nutrition colour thresholds. Nutly’s registry also links to other studies and the PRO-E reference. These sources do not endorse Nutly’s score: Nutly determines the weights, penalties and final categories. Check the specific source in the additive details.
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