How grading works
Every product is measured against the published scientific record — not marketing, not opinion. Each ingredient is matched to the NobleBlocks research engine and its corpus of 350M+ papers, and we report how strongly the evidence stands behind what's on the label.
The letter grades
A single, at-a-glance letter for how strongly the published research stands behind what's on the label — from A (strongest) to F.
How we weigh the evidence
Each ingredient is matched to the published research and weighed on how much high-quality evidence supports it, how consistent the findings are, and how relevant they are to how the ingredient is actually used. For well-established vitamins and minerals, we also consider their recognised role in the diet.
We don't publish the exact formula — but the principle never changes: more high-quality, consistent research means a higher grade, and every score traces back to the papers behind it.
Grades do not account for how ingredients interact in combination, and they are not medical advice.
Formulation & quality is separate
Alongside the evidence grade we describe how a product is made — vegan/vegetarian status, organic or third-party tested labels, and any fillers, artificial colors, sweeteners, or additives. This is informational: most additives are generally recognized as safe. We surface them so you can compare products at a glance and apply your own preferences.
Where the data comes from
- · Research evidence: the NobleBlocks research database of 350M+ peer-reviewed papers, with every score traceable back to its sources.
- · Product & label data: a range of trusted public, government, and community-maintained databases covering supplement labels, foods, and packaged goods.
- · Community contributions: products and labels added by NobleBlocks users when an item isn't yet in a public database.
When you scan a product we identify it across these sources, then grade whatever ingredients we can read against the research database.
Our independence
- · A grade is determined by the published evidence alone — a brand can never pay to change its grade or its ranking.
- · We report the strength of the evidence — we never declare a product good, bad, or its marketing false.
- · Any commercial placement, if shown, is always labelled and kept entirely separate from how a product is scored.
- · Grades update automatically as new research is published.
- · Your scans and preferences stay on your device; we don't require an account.