NOVA Score Food List: All 4 Groups + Examples
Which group does your food belong to? Complete reference list of NOVA Groups 1-4 with 25+ real grocery examples each, organized by aisle.
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NoJunk Blog
Decoding what's on your food label.
No wellness influencer takes. Just what the research actually says about the ingredients on your shelf.
Are Ultra-Processed Foods Gluten-Free? The Label Trap
Most packaged gluten-free foods are ultra-processed. Learn why gluten-free certification doesn't mean healthy, how to spot ultra-processed ingredients, and which foods are truly whole.
Read the breakdown →Are Seed Oils Ultra-Processed? The Evidence (2026)
Most seed oils are refined with industrial solvents. What NOVA actually classifies, which oils to swap, and what the research really shows.
Read the breakdown →NOVA Score Food Classification: What Each Group Actually Means
The NOVA food classification system assigns a score from 1 to 4 based on how industrially processed a food is - not how many calories it has or what nutrients it contains.
Read the breakdown →Natural vs Artificial Flavors: What the Label Hides
Natural flavors aren't as clean as they sound -- and artificial ones aren't as scary. What the FDA definition actually covers, and what neither label tells you.
Read the breakdown →Best Food Additive Checker App (2026)
A food additive checker app scans a product barcode and immediately identifies every additive in the ingredient list, flagging synthetic dyes, preservatives, and emulsifiers.
Read the breakdown →Titanium Dioxide in Food: What You Need to Know
Titanium dioxide (E171) is a whitening agent in candy, gum, and coffee creamers. The EU banned it in 2022, but the FDA still permits it in the US.
Read the breakdown →Food Additives to Avoid: The Short List That Matters
Not all food additives are equal. Here are the ones most worth watching on your next grocery run, plus how to spot them fast on any label.
Read the breakdown →Why Your Oats Probably Have Glyphosate in Them
Conventional oats are sprayed with herbicide just before harvest to dry them faster. That's why lab tests find residues up to 833 ppb in popular cereals. Here's what the label tells you and what it doesn't.
Read the breakdown →Aldi Just Pulled 44 Additives, Including Titanium Dioxide. Here's What Changed.
Aldi US is removing 44 additives from its private-label products, including titanium dioxide. What's actually being pulled, why it matters for label-reading, and what other chains are likely next.
Read the breakdown →Gatorade Just Dropped Red 40 and Yellow 5. Here's What That Means for Your Label-Reading.
The dye swap is real, but it's one ingredient change on one product. Here's what actually changed, what didn't, and why reading the label still matters.
Read the breakdown →Is Red 40 Safe? What We Know About the Most Common Food Dye
Red 40 is in almost everything orange or red: cereal, sports drinks, candy, yogurt. Some countries require warning labels. The FDA still calls it safe. Here's what the evidence actually looks like.
Read the breakdown →Ultra-Processed Foods Explained: What the NOVA System Actually Tells You
You've heard "ultra-processed" but the definition is fuzzy. The NOVA classification system makes it concrete. Here's how it works, what ends up in the top category, and why the distinction matters.
Read the breakdown →What Is Titanium Dioxide in Food, and Why Did Europe Ban It?
E171 was in thousands of products: candies, sauces, chewing gum, supplements. Then Europe banned it in 2022. Here's what it is, what the research says, and where it still shows up in North America.
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