How to read a Nutri-Score: the 2023 algorithm explained
The Nutri-Score is the A-to-E, green-to-red label you see on the front of food packs across much of Europe. It was developed from the British FSA nutrient-profiling model by a French public-health team, and it does one specific job: it summarises the nutritional balance of 100 g (or 100 ml) of a product into a single letter so two products on the same shelf can be compared at a glance.
That specificity is also its biggest source of misunderstanding — so before the mechanics, the honest framing: a Nutri-Score is a relative nutritiongrade, not a verdict on whether a food is “healthy”.
How the score is calculated
The algorithm adds up negative points for nutrients to limit and subtracts positive points for favourable components, always per 100 g/ml:
- Negative: energy (kJ), saturated fat, sugars, salt.
- Positive: protein, fibre, and the share of fruit, vegetables and pulses.
The net total maps onto five bands: A (best) through E. There are three separate calculation categories — general foods, beverages, and fats/oils/nuts/seeds — because comparing olive oil against breakfast cereal on one scale would be meaningless.
What the 2023 update changed
The original 2017 algorithm had well-documented blind spots, and the scientific committee behind the score revised it substantially. The 2023 version — the one Forkin implements — made four big moves:
| Change | Effect |
|---|---|
| Red and processed meat proteins capped | Meat products no longer harvest full protein bonus points; many dropped a grade |
| Sweeteners in drinks penalised | Zero-sugar sodas moved from B to C–E; sweetness without sugar is no longer rewarded |
| Tighter salt and sugar thresholds | Salty snacks and sweetened cereals shifted down |
| Milks and drinkable yogurts scored as beverages | Whole milk and sweetened drinkable yogurts compare against drinks, not foods |
If you remember one thing about 2023: the update was aimed at the products that were gaming the old model — lean processed meats, artificially sweetened drinks, and salty-but-fibrous snacks.
What the Nutri-Score deliberately ignores
By design, the algorithm reads the nutrition table and the fruit/vegetable percentage — nothing else. It does not see:
- Additives. An emulsifier-heavy dessert and a three-ingredient one can carry the same letter. (Browse the E-number index to see what regulators say about each additive.)
- Processing. The degree of industrial processing is captured by the separate NOVA classification, not by the Nutri-Score.
- Pesticides, packaging, origin, climate impact. Environmental impact needs its own score entirely.
- Portion size. Everything is per 100 g. A grade-C spread eaten by the spoonful and a grade-C ready meal eaten as dinner are very different exposures.
How Forkin extends it
Forkin's product score starts from the Nutri-Score 2023 calculation and then subtracts penalties for the things the label ignores:
- a penalty scaled by NOVA group (ultra-processing),
- a capped penalty for regulator-flagged additives (based on EFSA re-evaluations and related signals — see the additive index),
- a penalty for ingredients carrying IARC carcinogenicity classifications (e.g. processed meat, Group 1).
The result is shown as a 0–100 percentage plus a letter. A product with a printed B but a long additive list will score lower in Forkin than its shelf neighbour with the same B and a clean label. The full rubric, with the caps and edge cases, is documented on the methodology page. Forkin is independent — the score is our own derivation and is not endorsed by the Nutri-Score governance committee.
Using the letters well
- Compare within a category, not across categories.
- Treat A/B as a shortlist filter, then check processing and additives before deciding.
- Be most sceptical of good grades on heavily marketed categories — breakfast cereals, snack bars, plant-based meat — where reformulation to the test is common.
- For products with no ingredient list available, Forkin shows an “ingredients unverified” state rather than pretending to a complete score.
Frequently asked questions
- Is a Nutri-Score A product always healthy?
- No. The Nutri-Score compares the nutritional balance of 100 g of a product against other products — mostly within the same shelf. An A-rated soft drink is still a soft drink. It says nothing about additives, processing, pesticides, or how much of it you eat.
- What changed in the 2023 Nutri-Score update?
- The 2023 algorithm scores red meat proteins less favourably, treats sweeteners in beverages negatively, tightens thresholds for sugar and salt, and moves most milks and drinkable yogurts into the beverage category. Many products moved half a grade or more without a recipe change.
- Is Nutri-Score mandatory in the EU?
- No. It is a voluntary front-of-pack label adopted by several countries (France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland and others) but it is not an EU-wide legal requirement, and some manufacturers have dropped it.
- Why does Forkin's score differ from the printed Nutri-Score?
- Forkin starts from the Nutri-Score 2023 algorithm, then subtracts penalties for ultra-processing (NOVA group), regulator-flagged additives, and IARC carcinogenicity classifications. A product can keep a printed B while Forkin shows a lower score because of its additive load. Forkin is independent of and not endorsed by the Nutri-Score governance bodies.
Put it into practice
Forkin applies everything in this guide automatically — scan any barcode and see the score, processing group, additives, and your allergens checked in one view. See pricing or compare Forkin to other scanners.