How We Grade Products
Every product on Nutripedia receives a quality score from 0 to 100. This score is transparent, evidence-based, and never influenced by brand partnerships or affiliate commissions. Here is exactly how it works.
Our Principles
Every factor in the score is public. You can see exactly why a product scored the way it did.
We check certification databases, parse ingredient lists, and compare doses to published clinical research.
Scores are never influenced by affiliate relationships. A product that pays us commission gets the same scrutiny.
Score Bands
Verified
Independently batch-tested, fully transparent ingredients, clinically effective doses. The highest standard available.
Good
Some independent verification, minor transparency gaps. A solid choice with room for improvement.
Caution
Limited third-party verification. May use proprietary blends or lack independent testing data.
Unverified
No independent testing found. Ingredient transparency is poor. We cannot verify quality claims.
Scoring Breakdown
The quality score is the sum of five categories, each weighted by how much it impacts your safety and confidence in the product.
- Informed Sport or NSF Certified for Sport30 pts
- BSCG Certified Drug Free30 pts
- Informed Choice (monthly random testing)20 pts
- Named third-party lab (not self-tested)10 pts
- No third-party testing found0 pts
- No proprietary blends — every dose listed15 pts
- Full ingredient breakdown per serving5 pts
- Certificate of Analysis (COA) publicly available5 pts
- Uses proprietary blend hiding individual doses-15 pts
- Branded/trademarked ingredient (e.g. Creapure, KSM-66)10 pts
- Pharmaceutical-grade purity verified5 pts
- No red-flag fillers or unnecessary additives5 pts
- Contains flagged additives (talc, hydrogenated oils, etc.)-5 pts
- BRC/BRCGS Grade AA or A15 pts
- BRC/BRCGS Grade B or C10 pts
- Third-party GMP certification8 pts
- Self-claimed GMP (no independent audit)3 pts
- Dose matches or exceeds published research levels10 pts
- Dose below clinically effective threshold0 pts
Ingredient Red Flags
We flag these ingredients or practices when found on a product label. A flag doesn't mean "don't buy" — it means "here's something to be aware of."
Proprietary Blend
Hides individual ingredient doses. 87% of supplements use them. If a brand won't tell you the dose, ask why.
Titanium Dioxide (E171)
Colouring agent banned in the EU since August 2022 over nanoparticle safety concerns. Still legal in the UK.
Talc
Anti-caking agent with contamination risk. Has been associated with asbestos contamination in some sources.
Hydrogenated Oils
Trans fats with no place in a health product. Used as a filler or coating agent in some supplements.
Artificial Colours
Unnecessary in supplements. Purely cosmetic, adds nothing to efficacy.
Where We Verify Certifications
We don't take a brand's word for it. Certification claims are cross-referenced against the official databases maintained by each certifying body.
Important Note
Nutripedia is a research tool, not a medical advisor. Our quality scores present publicly available, verifiable facts about product testing and ingredients. We do not recommend, prescribe, or advise for or against any product. A high score means a product is well- verified and transparent — it does not mean it is right for you. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement.