Nutrient profiling, also nutritional profiling, is the science of classifying or ranking foods by their
nutritional composition in order to promote
health and prevent
disease.[1][2][3] A common use of nutrient profiling is in the creation of
nutritional rating systems to help consumers identify nutritious food.[2][4]
A variety of nutrient profile models have been developed by academics, health organizations, national governments and the food industry. The development or selection of a model to use in food policy decisions is important, as different models can lead to different classifications of the same foods.[5]