How Scoring Works
MANA SCORE
A 0-100 rating of what's really in your products, backed by science, not trends.
100% Independent. No brand can buy a score.
0-24
Toxic Storm
25-49
Scorched Desert
50-69
Neutral Valley
70-84
Lush Garden
85-100
Harmony Heights
Mana Score: 54
Neutral Valley
Safety
BHT preservative detected
"Natural flavors" (vague label)
Nutrition
High added sugar
Low fiber
Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
Confidence: High
Two Dimensions, One Score
Food products are scored on Safety (ingredient risks) and Nutrition (nutritional quality). Non-food products (cosmetics, cleaning, personal care) are scored on Safety alone.
Safety always comes first. If our safety analysis identifies serious concerns, no amount of added vitamins can offset that. A nutritious product with a serious safety issue will score accordingly.
Safety Analysis
We evaluate 8 categories:
☢
Chemical Hazards
🧪
Additives & Preservatives
🥜
Oil & Fat Quality
⚙
Processing Level
📦
Packaging Materials
👁
Ingredient Transparency
⚠
Product Recalls
Certifications
Nutrition Analysis
food products only
Built on Nutri-Score , a peer-reviewed framework validated across millions of products, enhanced with processing level assessment and added sugar analysis.
Works against:
Excess sugar
Excess sodium
Excess saturated fat
High calorie density
Works for:
Fiber
Protein
Fruit, vegetable, and nut content
We also apply category-aware adjustments: nuts aren't penalized for fat, cheese isn't penalized for sodium, and ultra-processed foods are evaluated differently than whole foods with the same macros.
Data Confidence
Products with incomplete ingredient data cannot receive top scores. Every Mana Score comes with a confidence level so you know how much data is behind it:
High
Comprehensive data. Score is well-supported.
Medium
Good but not complete data. Reliable with minor gaps.
Low
Significant data gaps. Score is capped to reflect uncertainty.
Limited
Minimal data. Score is heavily constrained.
We'd rather give you an honest "we're not sure" than a confident guess.
We evaluate concentration
We consider how much of a chemical is present, not just whether it's there. A trace amount and a significant dose are different risks. When multiple ingredients of concern appear together, we account for the combined effect.
We evaluate context
The same ingredient poses different risks in different products. A chemical in a food you eat daily is a different exposure than that chemical in a soap you rinse off in seconds.
We're honest about uncertainty
When we don't have enough data, we say so, and we cap the score accordingly. Every score comes with a confidence level so you know how much data is behind it.
Data Sources
Every claim behind a Mana Score traces back to established scientific and regulatory sources. We cross-reference multiple databases across different countries.
IARC Monographs - Carcinogen classifications (WHO)
California Proposition 65 - Carcinogens & reproductive toxins
EU REACH Regulation - Restricted substances
EU Cosmetics Regulation - Prohibited substances
FDA GRAS List - Generally Recognized as Safe
National Toxicology Program - U.S. toxicology research
USDA FoodData Central - Nutrition composition
Open Food Facts - Open-source product database
USDA Pesticide Data Program - Pesticide residue monitoring
FDA Total Diet Study - Contaminant monitoring
Nutri-Score - Peer-reviewed nutrition profiling (INSERM/Sorbonne)
NOVA Classification - Food processing classification (Monteiro et al.)
Why is my score different from other apps?
Different apps evaluate different factors with different approaches. We evaluate safety and nutrition together, consider concentration and context, and cap scores when data is limited.
Can a brand pay to change a score?
No. Never. No brand, manufacturer, or trade group can influence a score, request a review, or pay for a different result.
Why did a "healthy" product score low?
"Natural," "clean," and "healthy" are marketing terms, not regulated standards. We evaluate what's actually in the product, not what's printed on the front of the box.
Do you publish the full algorithm?
We publish every factor we evaluate, why it matters, and every data source we use. The exact formula is proprietary, because if every brand knew the precise math, they'd engineer products to game the score without actually making them better. We keep the formula private so it keeps working for you.
Why does "fragrance" or "natural flavors" lower a score?
These terms can hide hundreds of undisclosed chemicals. When we can't verify what's in a product, we score it more conservatively.
How often are scores updated?
Continuously, as new research, regulatory data, or product formulations change.
Is the Mana Score medical advice?
No. It is an informational tool, not a medical device. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.
The Mana Score is an informational tool. Not medical advice.