Q: What role does the ONQI™ (Overall Nutritional Quality Index) algorithm play in the NuVal™ System’s scoring process?
A: The NuVal™ Nutritional Scoring System is powered by the ONQI™ algorithm, a patent-pending algorithm that distills complex nutritional data into a single, easy-to-use score. The algorithm was developed by a panel of renowned medical and nutrition experts from leading universities and health organizations. Q: What factors contribute to how a food’s nutrition quality is scored?
A: The ONQI algorithm considers more than 30 different nutrients and nutrition factors, including: Numerator Nutrients: Nutrients considered to have generally favorable effects on health are placed in the numerator, where higher values increase the NuVal™ Score.

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

Denominator Nutrients: Nutrients with generally unfavorable effects on health are placed in the denominator, where higher values decrease the NuVal™ Score.

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

In addition to the numerator and denominator nutrients, the NuVal™ System takes into account other key factors that measure the quality and density of nutrients, as well as the strength of their association with specific health conditions. For example, trans fat has a very strong association with heart disease, a highly prevalent and serious condition. Therefore, the NuVal™ System assigns a "weighting coefficient" to trans fat which substantially lowers the Score of foods containing it. Those weighting coefficients are determined by the prevalence, severity, and strength of association with health conditions. The quality of macronutrients is another key factor in the overall equation. Fat quality, protein quality, carbohydrate quality, and glycemic load (a measure of carbohydrate quality) are among the "universal adjustors" that can move a NuVal™ Score higher or lower. The higher the quality, the higher the Score. Foods with higher nutrient density -- a significant amount of vitamins and mineral, but relatively few calories -- also receive extra credit and higher Scores. The greater a food's "trajectory" toward numerator nutrients (generally favorable) and away from denominator nutrients (generally unfavorable), the greater the Score. Q: What scientific criteria and nutritional guidelines were used to create the NuVal™ Nutritional Scoring System?
A: The team of experts designed the ONQI™ algorithm to reflect scientifically proven and accepted findings about the impact of particular nutrients on health, as reported and published by the scientific community. In doing so, the team incorporated into the design of the ONQI™ algorithm guidance from the Institute of Medicine’s Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIS - quantitative reference values for recommended intakes of nutrients), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Nutrition Facts Panel, US Department of Agriculture (USDA) MyPyramid, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 (advice from the Department of Health and Human Services, HHS, and the Department of Agriculture, USDA, about how good dietary habits can promote health and reduce risk for major chronic diseases), and relevant international standards Although the team used these governmental recommendations in designing the algorithm, neither the ONQI™ algorithm nor the NuVal™ System has been in any way approved or endorsed by any state or federal agency. Q: Could the Score for the same product change over time?
A: Yes. And these changes are likely to happen for two reasons. The first is scientific advancement. As new research is conducted and the findings verified, it may require updates or revisions to the ONQI™ algorithm that powers the NuVal™ Nutritional Scoring System. The Scientific Advisory Board, which manages the ONQI algorithm, also will manage the process to update the ONQI™ algorithm as new public health implications are proven. The second reason for changing scores is the reformulation of products. As manufactures notify us of changes to their product ingredients lists, NuVal™ Scores will be revisited and updated accordingly. For example, until recently, many processed food products contained trans fat. The removal of trans fat, as well as other nutrient reformulations, can impact – sometimes greatly – the NuVal™ Score of a product. Q: How often will scores be revisited to account for advancements in nutritional science?
A: As part of its responsibility to manage the ONQI™ algorithm, the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) will monitor research findings and advancements that may require revisions to the ONQI™ algorithm (which powers the NuVal™ Nutritional Scoring System and is owned and managed by Griffin Hospital). The SAB has committed to reviewing the algorithm itself every two years to determine if it should be revised based on scientific advancements or re-approved in its current form.