This page explains every score and metric in the Food Additives platform — what it measures, how it’s calculated, and how to interpret it.
Ingredient Metrics
These metrics describe individual ingredients across all their permitted food categories.
| Metric | What it measures | How to interpret |
|---|
| Category Reach | Number of food categories where this ingredient is permitted | Higher = more versatile ingredient. Top ingredients span 100+ categories. |
| Condition Burden | Average conditions per food category for this ingredient | Higher = more regulatory qualifications per use. Above 2.0 means expect conditions on most uses. |
| Average Difficulty | Average difficulty score (0-5) across all rules for this ingredient | Below 1.0 = generally straightforward. Above 3.0 = expect complexity in most categories. |
| Open-Dose Percentage | Share of categories where no numeric limit is set (GMP applies) | Higher = more categories without a specific number. Manufacturer uses minimum needed for effect. |
| Family Breadth | Number of top-level food families the ingredient spans | Max is 15. Higher = ingredient crosses more diverse food types (dairy, bakery, beverages, etc.). |
Food Category Metrics
These metrics describe individual food categories across all their permitted ingredients.
| Metric | What it measures | How to interpret |
|---|
| Formulation Flexibility | Number of ingredients permitted in this category | Higher = more formulation options. Top categories have 70+ permitted ingredients. |
| Condition Density | Average conditions per ingredient in this category | Higher = more conditional category. Above 2.0 means most ingredients come with conditions. |
| Average Difficulty | Average difficulty score (0-5) across all rules in this category | Below 1.0 = straightforward category. Above 3.0 = regulatory “hard zone.” |
| Expert Review Rate | Percentage of rules with 3+ conditions requiring specialist review | Above 20% means a significant share of ingredients need careful interpretation. |
| Difficulty Tier | Categorical band based on average difficulty | Low (avg < 1.5), Medium (1.5-3.0), High (avg >= 3.0) |
Difficulty Score (0-5)
Every permission rule is scored for regulatory difficulty. The score is the sum of five binary conditions:
| Condition | Points | What it detects |
|---|
| No recognizable limit type | +1 | The usage limit couldn’t be classified — ambiguous |
| Non-numeric limit (GMP/QS) | +1 | No specific number — “use minimum needed” (vague) |
| Category on GMP exclusion list | +1 | Contradictory signal — GMP permitted but category excluded |
| Has any conditions | +1 | At least one regulatory note qualifies the permission |
| Has 3+ conditions | +1 | Heavily conditional — many qualifications on one rule |
Difficulty Labels
| Label | Score | Guidance |
|---|
| Easy | 0 | Clear permission with a specific numeric limit and no conditions |
| Standard | 1-2 | Some nuance — a non-numeric limit or a condition to review |
| Complex | 3 | Multiple factors complicate interpretation. Review carefully. |
| Expert Required | 4-5 | Significant regulatory complexity. Consult a specialist before proceeding. |
A difficulty score is not a safety rating. It measures how complex the regulatory permission is to interpret, not how safe the ingredient is to use.
Commercial Opportunity Score (0-100)
Available on Premium and Enterprise tiers only.
Weighting
| Factor | Weight | Logic |
|---|
| Regulatory Difficulty | 30% | Higher average difficulty = harder for competitors to navigate |
| Expert Review Rate | 25% | Higher share of rules needing specialist review = higher barrier |
| Category Reach | 20% | More ingredients available = more formulation possibilities |
| Condition Burden | 15% | More conditions = more regulatory nuance to master |
| Standards Coverage | 10% | More Codex commodity standards referencing this category = more regulatory context |
Opportunity Tiers
| Tier | Score Range | What it means |
|---|
| High | 67-100 | Strong commercial opportunity — regulatory complexity creates competitive moat |
| Medium | 34-66 | Moderate opportunity — some regulatory barriers but not extreme |
| Low | 0-33 | Low barriers — easier for competitors to enter |
Ingredient Function Metrics
These metrics describe functional classes (e.g., Preservative, Emulsifier, Color).
| Metric | What it measures | How to interpret |
|---|
| Ingredient Count | Number of distinct ingredients serving this function | Higher = more options when selecting an ingredient for this function |
| Category Coverage | Number of food categories reached by ingredients in this class | Higher = broader applicability across the food industry |
| Rules per Ingredient | Average permission rules per ingredient in this class | Higher = ingredients in this class tend to be more versatile |
Regulatory Change Metrics
These metrics track how the standard has evolved over time.
| Metric | What it measures | How to interpret |
|---|
| Adoption Year | Year a permission rule was adopted into the standard | More recent = newer addition, potentially less established in industry practice |
| Change Risk Score | Composite score (40% recency + 35% complexity + 25% standards coverage) | Higher = category may see future regulatory changes. Useful for monitoring. |
Understanding “Open Dose (GMP)”
When a usage limit shows “Open dose (GMP)” or “GMP”, it means:
- There is no fixed maximum level for this ingredient in this category
- The ingredient should be used at the minimum quantity needed to achieve its intended technological effect
- This follows Good Manufacturing Practice — a principle, not a number
Open-dose permissions give manufacturers flexibility, but also require judgment. Document your rationale for the level you choose.