Food GreenScore® Methodology

One simple score to make healthy, conscious food choices easy – the GreenScore®

The GreenScore® is an evidence-based, personalized food health score, designed to help Americans identify which foods are most healthy.

Foods are scored from 1-100 across four science-based standards for: nutritional quality (Food Nutrition Score), level of ingredient processing (Food Processing Score), ingredient safety (Ingredient Safety Score), and climate footprint (Food Climate Footprint Score).

The four scores each make up 25% of a food's GreenScore® from 1-100.

Aim for a total GreenScore® above 50.

Very high nutritional value

90-100

Great

Very high nutritional value

75-89

Good

High nutritional value

50-74

Okay

Some nutritional value

26-49

Limit

Some nutritional value

0-25

Poor

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greenscore
USDA

The Food GreenScore® is an independent standard.

Read our Conflict of Interest Policy

The Food GreenScore® is an independent standard.

Read our Conflict of Interest Policy

The Food GreenScore® is an independent standard.

Read our Conflict of Interest Policy

The Food GreenScore® is an independent standard.

Read our Conflict of Interest Policy

Nutrition Score

Food Nutrition Score

The Food Nutrition Score is based on the latest USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which provides nutrition recommendations for the general U.S. population. Each food product is evaluated based on (i) the key ‘beneficial nutrients’ it supplies, (ii) the amount of ‘nutrients to limit’ it contains, and (iii) whether it provides healthful foods such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and legumes. The more nutritious a food is, the higher the product will score.

Aim for a Food Nutrition Score above 50.

Very high nutritional value

70 – 100

Very high nutritional value

High nutritional value

60 – 69

High nutritional value

Some nutritional value

50 – 59

Some nutritional value

Some nutritional value

0 – 49

Low nutritional value

Processing Score

Food Processing Score

The Food Processing Score evaluates each food based on the degree of processing it has undergone, specifically (i) the processing methods used and their associated health risks and (ii) how prominently processed ingredients appear in the product's formulation. The closer a product is to its natural state, the higher the product will score.

Aim for a Food Processing Score above 50.

Unprocessed or minimally processed

90 – 100

Unprocessed or minimally processed

High nutritional value

50 – 89

Moderately processed

Highly processed

0 – 49

Highly processed

Food Safety Score

Ingredient Safety Score

The Food Ingredient Safety Score evaluates products for (i) the presence of additives with known health concerns based on data from the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) and (ii) the potential pesticide and herbicide exposure based on the USDA Pesticide Data Program (PDP) along with the associated degree of risk according to WHO guidelines for classifying pesticides by hazard. The lower the total estimated food safety risk, the higher the product will score.

Aim for an Ingredient Safety Score above 50.

No health risk

100

Very minimal concern

Low health risk

75 – 99

Minimal concern

Moderate health risk

50 – 74

Moderate concern

Significant health risk

25 – 49

Significant concern

Very significant health risk

0 – 24

Significant concern

Environment Score

Food Climate Footprint Score

The Food Climate Footprint Score is based on the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Product Life Cycle Accounting and Reporting Standard. Each product is evaluated based on its (i) estimated carbon footprint per serving and (ii) its estimated water footprint per serving. The carbon footprint considers the greenhouse gas emissions (measured as carbon dioxide equivalents) emitted throughout the lifecycle of each ingredient from farm to farm gate. The water footprint considers the blue, green, and grey water used throughout the lifecycle of each ingredient from farm to farm gate. The lower the estimated carbon and water footprints, the higher a product will score.

Aim for a Food Climate Score above 65.

Very low  footprint

94 – 100

Very Low footprint

Very low  footprint

90 – 94

Low footprint

Moderate footprint

65 – 89

Moderate footprint

High footprint

30 – 64

High footprint

Very high footprint

6 – 29

Very high footprint

Extremely high footprint

0 – 5

Extremely high footprint

The Food GreenScore® Science Advisory Board

Joy Dubost, PhD, RDN

ex-Unilever, Head of Health & Wellness

Sean Cash, PhD

Chair, Division of Agriculture, Food & Environment, Tufts Friedman School

Stacy Bates, MS, RD, CDE

Director of Nutrition Wellness Strategy at H-E-B

Paul Fennely, PhD

ex-AECOM Environment, SVP Global Industry Sectors

Our Data Sources

The GreenScore® Food Health Scores and Food Sustainability Scores are based on research and data from 140+ vetted sources, including the following organizations:

USDA
WHO
FDA
EPA
NIH
Research-institute

Disclosure from GreenChoice

We’re constantly evolving the GreenScore® food product rating as new research emerges and trustworthy data becomes available.

No company can pay to have their products' GreenScore® ratings changed.

The descriptions used to describe each rating tier constitute the opinion of GreenChoice. They only qualify the food ratings according to the GreenScore® rating method. These descriptions do not refer directly to the product’s quality. The information provided is for informational purposes only. Although we aim to provide accurate and up-to-date information, no guarantee is made to that effect.

The app does not offer medical advice, or attempt to diagnose or treat any health problem, disease, or dietary condition. The information contained herein should not be used as a substitute for the advice of an appropriately qualified and licensed physician or other healthcare provider.

Ready to meet the needs of today's consumers?

Instant access to simple, science-based nutrition & sustainability data for the food industry.

Ready to meet the needs of today's consumers?

Instant access to simple, science-based nutrition & sustainability data for the food industry.

Ready to meet the needs of today's consumers?

Instant access to simple, science-based nutrition & sustainability data for the food industry.

Ready to meet the needs of today's consumers?

Instant access to simple, science-based nutrition & sustainability data for the food industry.