This reference explains the key metrics and fields you’ll encounter across the Food Additives platform dashboards.
Datasets
Ingredient Rule Lookup
The core dataset. Each row represents one ingredient permitted in one food category.
| Field | Description |
|---|
| Ingredient | The food additive name (e.g., “Citric Acid”, “Carrageenan”) |
| INS Number | International Numbering System identifier (e.g., INS 330) |
| Food Category | The Codex food category where this ingredient is permitted |
| Usage Limit | Maximum permitted level — either a numeric value (mg/kg), “Open dose (GMP)”, or “Excluded” |
| Conditions | Regulatory conditions or exceptions that apply to this specific permission |
| Difficulty | Rating from Easy (0) to Expert Required (4-5) based on regulatory complexity |
Ingredient Profiles
One row per ingredient, summarizing its regulatory footprint.
| Field | Description |
|---|
| Ingredient | The food additive name |
| Category Reach | How many food categories this ingredient is permitted in (higher = more versatile) |
| Condition Burden | Average number of conditions per category where this ingredient appears |
| Difficulty Score | Average regulatory difficulty across all permitted categories |
| Functional Class | Primary function (e.g., Preservative, Emulsifier, Color) |
Category Profiles
One row per food category, summarizing regulatory characteristics.
| Field | Description |
|---|
| Food Category | The Codex food category name |
| Formulation Flexibility | How many ingredients are permitted in this category (higher = more flexible) |
| Condition Density | Average conditions per ingredient in this category |
| Difficulty Tier | Overall regulatory difficulty classification |
| Field | Description |
|---|
| Product Type | The product archetype (e.g., Bread, Ice Cream, Ketchup) |
| Industry | The industry group this product belongs to |
| Ingredient | Permitted ingredient name |
| Usage Limit | Human-readable limit (e.g., “Max 500 mg/kg”, “Open dose (GMP)“) |
| Difficulty | Easy, Standard, Complex, or Expert Required |
| Conditions | Any applicable regulatory conditions |
Commercial Opportunity
Available on Premium and Enterprise tiers only.
| Field | Description |
|---|
| Food Category | The Codex food category name |
| Opportunity Score | 0-100 composite score (higher = greater commercial potential) |
| Opportunity Tier | High, Medium, or Low based on the score |
| Factor | Weight | What it measures |
|---|
| Regulatory Difficulty | 30% | Categories with higher difficulty = harder for competitors to enter |
| Expert Review Rate | 25% | Proportion of rules requiring specialist interpretation |
| Category Reach | 20% | Number of ingredients available for formulation |
| Condition Burden | 15% | Density of regulatory conditions |
| Standards Coverage | 10% | Number of Codex standards referencing this category |
Glossary
| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Codex Alimentarius | International food standards body (joint FAO/WHO). The Food Additives platform digitizes CXS 192-1995, the General Standard for Food Additives. |
| INS Number | International Numbering System — a unique identifier assigned to each food additive by Codex |
| GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) | When no numeric limit is set, ingredients must be used at levels consistent with good manufacturing practice — the minimum needed to achieve the desired effect |
| Open dose | Synonym for GMP-level permission — no fixed maximum, use responsibly |
| Difficulty Score | 0-5 scale measuring how complex the regulatory permission is to interpret. Accounts for vague limits, multiple conditions, and conflicting rules |
| Category Reach | Number of distinct food categories where an ingredient is permitted. Higher reach = more versatile ingredient |
| Formulation Flexibility | Number of distinct ingredients permitted in a food category. Higher flexibility = more formulation options |
| Condition | A regulatory note attached to a permission — may restrict scope, add exceptions, or define specific use cases |