It incorporates a broader range of food principles, applying consistent criteria across multiple food categories, and—unlike some other systems—the methodology used to produce the ratings is completely transparent.
Foods that are ranked 70 and higher are encouraged. Foods with a score between 30 and 70 are OK if eaten in moderation. Foods scoring lower than 30 are supposed to minimized.
A food gets a higher score if it contains fruits, non-starchy vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, yogurt, plant oils, or seafood. It is penalized if it contains refined grains or red or processed meat.