Nutrition made easy!

The NuVal® Nutritional Scoring System helps you cut through confusing nutrition information so you can make decisions about food quickly and easily. With NuVal Scores, you can feel good about your choices - in just seconds - while you're shopping.

NuVal is... A Different Approach to Nutrition

• Simple — The NuVal System provides comprehensive nutritional information in one simple number between 1 and 100. The higher the score, the more nutritious the food.
• Inclusive — You will see NuVal Scores on all kinds of food – from apples to chips, from private label to national brands - not just products from specific manufacturers.
• Convenient — NuVal Scores are right where you shop. Look for the blue NuVal logo on shelf tags throughout the store, so you can compare overall nutrition the same way you compare price.
• Objective — The NuVal System was developed by an independent panel of nutrition and medical experts from leading universities and health organizations. The panel was led by Dr. David Katz, MD, of the Yale Griffin Prevention Research Center. No food or beverage manufacturers or special interest groups had any influence on developing NuVal or its scores.
• Value-focused — NuVal Scores help you get the most nutrition for your money by allowing you to compare price and nutrition side-by-side on the same tag. The NuVal System is one of the ways that we are helping you make healthier choices on any budget.

All you have to do is:

1. Look It's easy to incorporate NuVal Scores into your regular shopping routine. Just look for the NuVal System's double-hexagon emblem and 1-100 food score on shelf tags next to the price.
2. Compare The NuVal Score's convenient location on the shelf tag lets you compare overall nutrition the same way you compare price. No more scouring nutrition labels; with NuVal Scores, you can see and compare food's nutritional value in a single number at a single glance.
3. Decide NuVal Scores make it easy to find more nutritious alternatives in nearly every department and aisle in the store. So when you want to buy more nutritious foods, simply look for those with higher NuVal Scores. And even if you don't buy the product with the highest Score, you have the nutrition information you need to make your decision quickly and easily.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: What is the NuVal System?
  A: The NuVal Nutritional Scoring System is a food scoring system that allows you to see – at a glance – the nutritional value of the food you buy. NuVal Scores rank all foods on a scale of 1 to 100; the higher the score, the better the nutrition. The NuVal Nutritional Scoring System... a tool you can easily use while shopping with us to make more nutritious food choices.
• Q: Why are we posting NuVal scores for foods?
  A: NuVal Scores provide nutritional guidance that our customers have asked for. While customers appreciate the variety and selection we provide, our research has shown there's a growing demand for a simple, easy way to find the most nutritious foods on our shelves. The NuVal System offers nutritional transparency, is backed by solid science, and was created independent of food manufacturers, meaning it's a system you can trust. Recently, the NuVal System won the endorsement of the American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM), whose mission is to promote health and curb disease.
  Scores are placed throughout our stores so you can decide what your optimal NuVal score should be in each food category.
  We see the NuVal system as an opportunity to do something good for public health in light of the growing rates of lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes, obesity and heart disease. While these trends are disturbing, the good news is that they are reversible, and NuVal can help.
• Q: Who developed the NuVal system?
  A: The NuVal System is a science-based food nutrition system that was created independent of our store or any food manufacturer. A team of recognized nutrition and medical experts from leading universities and health organizations drove the development of the Overall Nutritional Quality Index (ONQITM) algorithm, which generates NuVal Scores.
  Funded by Griffin Hospital, a non-profit community hospital and teaching affiliate of the Yale University School of Medicine, located in Derby, CT, and home to the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center, this team – led by Dr. David Katz – worked for two years to develop the ONQITM algorithm.
• Q: What specific nutrients and factors go into a NuVal Score?
  A: The following nutrients and nutrition factors are used in determining a food's NuVal Score:
  
  
  Nutrients considered to have generally favorable effects on health:
  • Fiber
  • Folate
  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin D
  • Vitamin E
  • Vitamin B12
  • Vitamin B6
  • Potassium
  • Calcium
  • Zinc
  • Omega-3 fatty acids
  • Total bioflavanoids
  • Total carotenoids
  • Magnesium
  • Iron
  
  
  Additional entries
  

  • Protein quality
  • Fat quality
  • Glycemic load
  • Energy density

  
  
  Nutrients with generally unfavorable effects on health
  

  • Saturated fat
  • Trans fat
  • Sodium
  • Sugar
  • Cholesterol

  
  
• Q: Can NuVal Scores be used for special diets (such as low sodium, low fat, etc.)?
  A: The NuVal System does not reflect special diets, such as low fat or low sodium, and customers looking for specific nutrient levels will still need to review the Nutrition Facts Panel (NFP). However, a higher NuVal Score generally reflects a lower quantity of negative nutrients such as sodium and fat.
• Q: Are NuVal Scores adjusted for "positive" additives such as probiotics?
  A: The NuVal System does not give consideration to non-nutrient food additives at this time, such as probiotics or plant sterols because these items do not add or detract from the nutritional value. Of course, consumers may still benefit from these additives.
• Q: Do NuVal Scores consider portion size?
  A: No. Since the nutritional quality of a food does not vary with serving size, the NuVal System does not offer guidance for portion size. You still need to choose portion sizes of foods appropriate for your daily needs. However, because it factors in properties that influence satiety, foods that score well on the NuVal System can fill you up on fewer calories, and therefore may be a tool to help consumers consciously manage their own portions.
• Q: How many products in a grocery store have a NuVal Score?
  A: It is our goal to have NuVal scores on as many items as possible. Most departments in our stores use NuVal Scores, such as produce, cookies, crackers, dairy, meats, seafood, cereal, soft drinks, and frozen foods. Currently, we have NuVal Scores on about 15,000 items.

How are NuVal Scores Calculated?

The NuVal Nutritional Scoring System takes more than 30 different nutrients and nutrition factors into account when developing a Score, making it a very robust food rating system. The nutrient content for a food is processed through a complex algorithm developed through a rigorous process by a team of twelve experts.

Boiled down to its simplest description, here is how the NuVal Nutritional Scoring System works:

• Nutrients with generally favorable effects on health are placed in the numerator, where higher values increase the NuVal Score.
• Nutrients with generally unfavorable effects on health are placed in the denominator, where higher values decrease the NuVal score.