GoCoCo Scoring

    GoCoCo gives food products a score from 0 to 10. The scale is a reflection of the nutritional value of each product, therefore, the closer it is to 10, the more it should be included in a balanced diet.

The scoring methodology that we apply is our own. However, it is based on the application of existing scales and scientific studies that are especially recognized for their usefulness and rigor.

    To obtain the score, we apply 3 filters:

      Stage One: The W.H.O Nutrient Profile Model

      We apply the classification of the nutrient profile model of the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Nutrient Profile Model (NPM). Specifically, the WHO issues advice on the advisability of carrying out marketing and communication campaigns aimed at children for a series of foods and/or categories of specific products. For this reason, the model classifies foods into 18 categories.
      The WHO defines the Nutrient profiling as “the science of classifying or ranking foods according to their nutritional composition for reasons related to preventing disease and promoting health”.
      ‍      The nutrient profile provides a way to differentiate between foods and beverages that are more likely to be part of a balanced diet and those that are less likely to be. This is achieved by setting specific nutrient limits for each category: total and added sugars; total and saturated fats; calories, sodium (salt), and the addition of sweeteners.

      • WHO “NO” Group: For those products/foods in which, based on their nature and characteristics, the W.H.O recommends that no promotions (advertising) be made to children.
      • WHO “YES” Group: For those products/foods in which, based on their nature and characteristics, the W.H.O does not establish any precautions regarding the promotion (advertising) of their consumption  aimed at children.

      At GoCoCo we believe in the W.H.O guidelines, but there is one point where we differ. We have decided to remove the limit values for fat in dairy products, as there is no clear evidence that skimmed dairy products are healthier... And there are findings showing that whole dairy consumption is associated with a lower risk of mortality and cardiovascular disease events.


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      Stage Two: The NOVA classifications system

      We apply the calculation of the NOVA classification system. This method classifies foods into 4 groups based on their processing:

      • NOVA 1: corresponds to unprocessed or minimally processed foods.
      • NOVA 2: Applies to processed culinary ingredients. Items classified in this group are products that come from NOVA 1 by crushing, pressing, or grinding, etc. and are typically used for cooking and seasoning. NOVA 2 products are rarely consumed alone (for example sugar, vegetable oils, salt, vinegar, flour, etc.).
      • NOVA 3: Refers to processed foods. they are normally NOVA 1 products that have been combined with NOVA 2 products (salts, sugar, oil, etc.). It is common for these products to contain between two, but no more than five ingredients.
      • NOVA 4: Corresponds to ultra-processed products. They are usually industrial preparations with more than five ingredients, many of which are impossible to find in a domestic kitchen. They can and usually are subject to unnatural processes such as hydrogenation, extrusion, milling, etc., and are usually foods that are the subject of intense marketing and advertising campaigns (well above the products in the rest of the NOVA categories).

        Following these first two steps, we apply the following “rule” (and its exception):

        All products will receive a score that corresponds to the possible combination of results between WHO and NOVA systems:

        • Foods present in WHO Group YES + NOVA Group 1-3 = 10 points
        • Foods present in WHO Group YES + NOVA Group 4 = 6 points
        • Foods present in WHO Group NO + NOVA Group 4 = 4 points
        • Foods present in WHO NO + NOVA Group 1-3 = 7 or 5 points

        We penalize NOVA 1-3 by deducting 3 points if they exceed one WHO limit of the NPM, as long as it’s not added sugar, and 5 points if they exceed more than one limit or if they contain added sugar.
        This exception is due to our desire not to over-penalize products that are not ultra-processed and do not have a highly unfavorable nutrient profile. Additionally, this exemption will not apply to juices, fresh meat and processed meat. These categories will still be penalized 5 points if they exceed a limit set by the nutrient profile.
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        Why? 
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        The category of Juices is limited in the WHO model only by total sugar,         not added sugar, so we want to penalize natural juices by 5 points. This is because the WHO recommends reducing juice consumption due to it’s high content of free sugars.
        Regular consumption of red and processed meats is considered carcinogenic by the WHO,         following the review of various scientific studies. Therefore, we have decided to penalize 5 points for meat products that exceed the total fat limit in the relevant categories.

          Stage three: The warning system

          This system establishes a series of levels for key nutrients. from these levels, this system proposes to include in the product as many “warning stamps” as appropriate if it is a food:

          • high in added sugars
          • high in saturated fat
          • high in added sodium
          • high in calories

          This type of labeling is already mandatory in countries like Chile and Argentina, and international organizations such as the WHO and FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) have expressed their support for this law due to the positive impact it is having on food choices in these countries.

          In our case, GoCoCo’s algorithm continues to outline its final grade and subtracts 1 point from the score that we had already obtained in “the rule” based on:

          • If a product/food doesn't generate a warning, no points are deducted.
          • If a product/food generates 1 warning = 1 point is deducted.
          • If a product/food generates 2 warnings = 2 points are deducted.
          • If a product/food generates 3 warnings = 3 points are deducted.
          • If a product/food generates 4 warnings = 4 points are deducted.

          Why our scoring system only subtracts?

          Our scoring system begins with a 10, and we subtract points based on the information you see in the warnings. Rewarding products based only on an isolated nutrient is a reductionist view of nutrition, called nutritionism.
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          ‍          Thinking about good or bad nutrients is playing into the hands of the food industry and can lead us to make our food choices based on biased slogans. Have you ever seen products like yogurts with high protein and a lot of flavorings, sugary cereals rich in fiber, margarines with low quality fats but with added vitamins...? This type of marketing confuses and distances us from the true nature of food.

          When we eat a piece of fruit wonly on its nutrients.

          ‍          As the famous journalist Michael Pollan says: the nutritional value of food is "greater than the sum of its parts."‍

          What products don't have a score?

          GoCoCo will not offer a score for products in the following categories:‍

          • Any products not considered in the WHO model: alcoholic beverages, children’s products, food supplements.
          • Any product that belongs to the NOVA group 2. Such as processed culinary ingredients such as sugar, spices, vegetable oils, salt, vinegar, flour, etc.

          GoCoCo algorithm