Access through your institution Buy or subscribe arising from D. Mozaffarian et al. _Nature Food_ https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-021-00381-y (2021) The Food Compass Score (FCS), recently

introduced in _Nature Food_1, is a nutrient profiling system used to assess the healthfulness of foods. As described by its authors, the FCS is unique in that it applies the same evaluation

criteria across different food groups, incorporates both positive and negative elements, and can be applied to all foods and beverages, using the same algorithm and scoring thresholds1.

Another reported innovation was to calculate total scores per 100 kcal, rather than per gram, which can be strongly influenced by water content1. The FCS face validity was confirmed by

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customer support REFERENCES * Mozaffarian, D. et al. Food Compass is a nutrient profiling system using expanded characteristics for assessing healthfulness of foods. _Nat. Food_ 2, 809–818

(2021). Article  Google Scholar  * Fulgoni, V. L. 3rd, Keast, D. R. & Drewnowski, A. Development and validation of the nutrient-rich foods index: a tool to measure nutritional quality of

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system? _Eur. J. Clin. Nutr._ https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-022-01099-1 (2022). Download references AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * Center for Public Health Nutrition,

University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA Adam Drewnowski Authors * Adam Drewnowski View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar CONTRIBUTIONS A.D.

was responsible for the conception and design of the work and for the analysis and interpretation of data previously published as supplemental data in Nature Food. A.D. has reviewed and

approved the submitted version. CORRESPONDING AUTHOR Correspondence to Adam Drewnowski. ETHICS DECLARATIONS COMPETING INTERESTS A.D. is the original developer of the Naturally Nutrient Rich

and the Nutrient Rich Food (NRF) indices. That work was supported at the time by the Nutrient Rich Coalition whose members were The Beef Checkoff Program through the National Cattlemen’s

Beef Association, California Avocado Commission, California Kiwifruit, California Strawberry Commission, Egg Nutrition Center, Florida Department of Citrus, Grain Foods Foundation, National

Dairy Council, National Pork Board, United States Potato Board, Wheat Foods Council and Wild Blueberry Association of North America. A.D. is a member of Nestlé Scientific Advisory Board and

has received grants, contracts and honoraria from these and other entities both public and private with an interest in nutrient density metrics and nutrient profiling of foods. PEER REVIEW

PEER REVIEW INFORMATION _Nature Food_ thanks Mike Rayner and the other, anonymous, reviewer(s) for their contribution to the peer review of this work. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PUBLISHER’S NOTE

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CITE THIS ARTICLE Drewnowski, A. Matters Arising: Food Compass novelty and NOVA category assignments. _Nat Food_ 3, 581–583 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-022-00556-1 Download

citation * Received: 25 January 2022 * Accepted: 20 June 2022 * Published: 11 August 2022 * Issue Date: August 2022 * DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-022-00556-1 SHARE THIS ARTICLE

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