Overall nutritional quality index

The overall nutritional quality index was a nutritional rating system developed at the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center in 2008. A proprietary algorithm assigned foods a score between 1 and 100 intended to reflect the overall nutritional value a portion of the given food provided.{{cite news

|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2008/oct/22/foodanddrink-healthandwellbeing

|title=Think you know what's good for you to eat? asks Emine Saner

|first=Emine

|last=Saner

|date=21 October 2008

|accessdate=2019-10-27

|work=the Guardian

|archive-date=2018-09-18

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918091026/https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2008/oct/22/foodanddrink-healthandwellbeing

|url-status=live

}} The system was marketed commercially as NuVal by NuVal, LLC, a joint venture with Topco Associates.{{cite news

|title=NuVal Nutritional Scoring System Will Debut in Major U.S. Chains This September

|url=https://www.newhope.com/managing-your-business/nuvaltm-nutritional-scoring-system-will-debut-major-us-chains-september

|publisher=Informa Markets

|agency=PRNewswire via COMTEX

|work=New Hope Network

|location=Braintree, MA

|accessdate=2019-10-27

|date=11 July 2008

|archive-date=2019-09-22

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922151517/https://www.newhope.com/managing-your-business/nuvaltm-nutritional-scoring-system-will-debut-major-us-chains-september

|url-status=live

}} Over 1600 grocery stores in the United States placed NuVal scores on product shelf tags next to the price.{{cite web

|first=Elaine

|last=Watson

|title=Goodbye NuVal… and good riddance?

|url=https://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Article/2017/11/13/Goodbye-NuVal-and-good-riddance

|website=FoodNavigator-USA

|publisher=William Reed Media Inc.

|accessdate=2019-10-27

|date=13 November 2017

|archive-date=2020-08-11

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811153248/https://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Article/2017/11/13/Goodbye-NuVal-and-good-riddance

|url-status=live

}} The commercial product was discontinued in 2017 amid accusations of conflicts of interest and criticism of NuVal LLC's refusal to publish the algorithm.{{cite news

|title=Yale researcher's ratings service discontinued

|url=https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2017/11/03/yale-researchers-ratings-service-discontinued/

|work=Yale Daily News

|accessdate=2019-10-27

|date=2017-11-03

|first=Amy

|last=Xiong

|archive-date=2019-10-27

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191027055949/https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2017/11/03/yale-researchers-ratings-service-discontinued/

|url-status=live

}} Either of which may have contributed to some inconsistencies in scoring where certain processed foods scored higher than, for instance, canned fruits and vegetables.

Description

The algorithm considers thirty nutrient factors, like the relative portions of vitamins, sugar, saturated fat, and trans fats and the quality of the protein and fat,{{cite web

|title=ONQI: The Science Behind The Scores

|url=http://www4.nuval.com:80/science

|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170722233846/http://www4.nuval.com/science

|website=nuval.com

|archivedate=2017-07-22

|access-date=2020-04-27

|url-status=live

}} and produces a score from one to 100. Higher scores represent greater overall nutritional value. However, the actual algorithm, including the relative weights of the nutrients, was never disclosed to the public.

Broccoli, blueberries, okra, oranges, and green beans were some foods that received the best score (100) while ice pops and soft drinks received the worst (1).

Selected NuVal scores

class="wikitable sortable"
Food nameONQI
Spinach100
Broccoli100
Blueberries100
Okra100
Orange100
Green beans100
Pineapple99
Radish99
Summer squash98
Apple96
Green cabbage96
Tomato96
Clementine94
Watermelon94
Mango93
Red onions93
Fresh figs91
Grapes91
Banana91
Milk (skimmed)91
Avocado89
Oatmeal88
Atlantic salmon fillet87
Atlantic halibut fillet82
Catfish fillet82
Cod fillet82
Tilapia fillet82
Oysters81
Swordfish steak81
Prawns75
Shrimp75
Clams71
Monkfish fillet64
Milk (whole)52
Scallops51
Turbot fillet51
Pasta50
Tinned peas49
Turkey breast (skinless)48
Prunes45
Chicken breast (boneless)39
Orange juice39
Lobster36
Pork tenderloin35
Flank steak (Beef)34
Turkey breast31
Veal chop31
Veal leg cutlet31
Beef tenderloin30
Chicken drumstick30
Pork chop (boneless centre cut)28
Chicken wings28
Lamb chops (loin)28
Bacon28
Leg of lamb28
Ham (whole)27
Raisins26
Green olives24
Bagel23
Peanut butter23
Condensed cream of broccoli soup21
Salted, dry-roasted peanuts21
Fried egg18
Swiss cheese17
Diet fizzy drinks15
Non-streaky bacon13
Pretzel sticks11
Dark chocolate10
White bread9
Salami7
Hot dog5
Cheese puffs4
Milk chocolate3
Apple pie2
Crackers2
Fizzy drinks1
Popsicle1

See also

{{Portal bar|Food|}}

References

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