How the Score Works
A plain-language explanation of NutriAI's meal grades — what they are, how they're made, and where they can be wrong.
What you see
Every scanned meal gets a letter grade from A+ to F and a 1–10 inflammation-awareness score. Higher grades mean the meal looks more aligned with an anti-inflammatory way of eating; lower grades mean the AI spotted more ingredients commonly associated with inflammatory load.
How the score is produced
When you take a photo, advanced AI vision models analyze the image to identify the foods on the plate, estimate portions, and infer likely ingredients. The score then weighs factors such as:
- Level of processing (whole food vs. ultra-processed)
- Added sugars and refined sweeteners
- Refined grains vs. whole grains
- Industrial seed oils and fried preparations
- Overall balance of the plate (protein, fiber, vegetables)
Barcode scans work differently: packaged-food data comes from the Open Food Facts database, and the same scoring framework is applied to the listed ingredients.
What the score is NOT
- It is not personalized to your symptoms. The grade reflects general anti-inflammatory eating principles, not your individual reactions. The symptom journal exists precisely because your triggers are personal.
- It is not a medical measurement of inflammation in your body. NutriAI estimates the inflammatory potential of foods. It does not measure CRP, cytokines, or anything happening inside you, and it is not a diagnostic tool.
Estimates can be wrong
AI vision analysis of a photo is an estimate. Accuracy varies with meal complexity — a single apple is easy; a mixed curry with hidden oils is hard. Portions, cooking methods, and ingredients the camera can't see (sauces, sweeteners, oils) are inferred, and sometimes inferred wrong. That's why every result is editable before you save it — if the AI misidentifies something, correct it and the log reflects your fix.
Scores may change over time
As the underlying AI models improve, the same meal may receive a slightly different grade than it did months earlier. We consider that a feature — the scoring gets better — but it does mean grades are not frozen in time.
Validation status
NutriAI's scoring has not yet been externally validated. We plan to measure and publish accuracy metrics, and we'll update this page when we do. Until then, treat every grade as a helpful estimate — a starting point for your own observation, not a verdict.
Questions?
We're happy to explain more. Email support@trynutriai.com.