Nutri-Score rates a food's nutrient quality from A (best) to E (worst). NOVA classifies how processed it is, from group 1 (minimally processed) to group 4 (ultra-processed). They measure two different things, and neither one accounts for your goals, which is why the same food can be right for you and wrong for someone else.
What does Nutri-Score measure?
Nutri-Score looks at a food's nutrition per 100g and grades it A to E:
- Pushes the grade up: fibre, protein, and fruit, vegetables, pulses and nuts.
- Pushes the grade down: calories, sugar, saturated fat and salt.
A good Nutri-Score is A or B. It is a quick read on overall nutrient quality, but it is an average, so it can flatten important detail.
What does NOVA measure?
NOVA ignores nutrients entirely and asks one question: how processed is this food?
| NOVA group | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Unprocessed or minimally processed | Fruit, eggs, plain yoghurt, oats |
| 2 | Culinary ingredients | Oil, butter, sugar, salt |
| 3 | Processed foods | Cheese, tinned fish, fresh bread |
| 4 | Ultra-processed | Many packaged snacks and soft drinks |
Can a food be a good Nutri-Score but still ultra-processed?
Yes, and this is the key limitation. A diet drink or a heavily formulated "low sugar" snack can earn a decent Nutri-Score while still being NOVA group 4. That is why looking at one score alone can mislead you. Nutrient quality and processing are different lenses, and you often want both.
Why a single universal score is not enough
Even together, Nutri-Score and NOVA describe the food, not the eater. They do not know that you are building muscle and want more protein, or that you are watching sugar, or that your gut reacts to certain additives. A universal score answers "is this generally healthy". The more useful question is "is this right for me".
That is what a personalised score does. forme reads the same nutrition and processing data, then weighs it against your goals and shows the honest reasons, so the score actually reflects your situation rather than an average stranger's.
Beyond a one-size-fits-all score
forme turns nutrition and processing into a score built around your goals, with the reasons shown. Always free to scan.
The bottom line
Use Nutri-Score for a quick read on nutrient quality and NOVA for how processed a food is, and remember they answer different questions. Neither knows your goals, so treat any single universal score as a starting point, not a verdict. It is food guidance, not medical or dietary advice.