CleanFoodScore Standards & Methodology
CleanFoodScore was founded to bring absolute transparency to packaged groceries and restaurant menus. We provide evidence-backed verdicts without manufacturer sponsorship or affiliate bias.
The 90-Day Freshness Rule
Brands reformulate ingredients quietly. A verified record on CleanFoodScore is strictly valid for 90 days from its fixed verification date. When 90 days lapse without manual re-audit, the verdict automatically returns Unknown and cannot be recommended as a clean alternative.
Primary Source Verification
We only accept full, official ingredient statements directly from the brand's product packaging or verified manufacturer nutrition documentation. Generic homepage links or marketing buzzwords ("all natural") are categorically rejected.
Regional Ingredient Specificity
A product sold in the United States may contain artificial colorings and preservatives that are banned or voluntarily substituted in Australia or the EU. Every record is strictly tied to its geographic region and recipe code.
Verified vs. User Evidence
Our database clearly distinguishes between independently verified manufacturer records and user-pasted package labels. Pasted labels run through identical matching logic, but are labeled as user-supplied evidence.
Editorial Independence & E-E-A-T
CleanFoodScore does not accept sponsored listings, paid reviews, or affiliate commissions that influence product scores. Our matching algorithm applies identical, deterministic rules across all brands:
- Definite statements take precedence: An explicit ingredient match always supersedes a conditional ("may contain") allergen statement.
- Multi-representation aliases: We recognize synonym variations including E-numbers, INS codes, FD&C numbers with '#' or 'No.', and chemical designations.
- Clean Verdict: A product receives a Clean verdict only when no selected additive is detected in its verified statement.
Notice a Recipe Formulation Change?
Help keep our community database current. If a brand has updated their ingredient statement or a source link has moved, use our manual check tool or submit an update.