How Zeta grades every product you scan.
We blend AI, global lab data, and community expertise to deliver scores that respect your religious, medical, and sustainability priorities—without ads or brand influence.
Pillars
Three signals feed every verdict
Religious + ethical compliance
Halal, kosher, vegetarian, and cruelty-free rules mapped from certification bodies plus community scholars.
Allergy & medical safety
Cross-referenced with FAO allergen lists, pediatric research, and user preferences (eczema, pregnancy).
Nutrition & sustainability
Processing level, sugar load, additives, packaging footprint, and labor ethics weighted per region.
Methodology
From barcode to verdict in under 4 seconds
Label capture
Our OCR + barcode pipeline extracts ingredients and certifications. Human moderators audit tricky labels.
Signal weighting
Each pillar produces sub-scores (0–100). We adjust using personal preferences (e.g., “avoid palm oil”).
Review & publish
Flags move through a 3-person moderation wheel. Once approved, verdicts sync to every locale in seconds.
Score bands
Understand the color system
90 – 100
Excellent
Meets every preference. Great default choice.
75 – 89
Consider
Strong overall but review notes (sugar, sourcing).
60 – 74
Caution
At least one clear concern. Check alternatives.
< 60
Avoid
Fails key dietary or ethical criteria.
Questions
Food scoring FAQ
What makes a product “Excellent” vs “Caution”?›
Excellent (90+) means no red flags across pillars and strong sourcing transparency. Caution (60–74) surfaces at least one concern you should review, such as high sugars or ambiguous gelatin sources.
How often are scores refreshed?›
Core data syncs weekly. Ingredient flags update immediately when moderators approve reports. Suppliers can submit lab evidence for reconsideration—changes show in-product within 24h.
Can brands influence the score?›
No. Brands can upload documents but cannot pay for boosts. Every change is logged and voted on by our independence council.
Transparency tools
Audit the scoring model yourself
Download the rubric, explore open-source checks, or schedule a call with our science team. Community contributions keep Zeta accountable.