The higher the NuVal™ Score, the better the nutrition.

The NuVal™ Nutritional Scoring System helps you cut through confusing nutrition information so you can make decisions about food quickly and easily – and feel good about your choices. 

Should you buy wheat or oatmeal bread? Are pretzels more nutritious than tortilla chips? These are the decisions that NuVal scores can help you make – in seconds – as you're walking down your Coborn's aisles. The NuVal System provides comprehensive nutritional information in one simple number between 1 and 100. The higher the score, the higher the nutrition.

All you have to do is:

Look

It's easy to incorporate NuVal Scores into your regular shopping routine. Just look for the NuVal System's double-hexagon emblem and 1-100 food score on shelf tags next to the price.

Compare

The NuVal Score's convenient location on the shelf tag lets you compare overall nutrition the same way you compare price.  No more scouring nutrition labels; with NuVal Scores, you can see and compare food's nutritional value in a single number at a single glance.

Decide

NuVal Scores make it easy to find more nutritious alternatives in nearly every department and aisle in the store.  So when you want to buy more nutritious foods, simply look for those with higher NuVal Scores.  And even if you don't buy the product with the highest Score, you have the nutrition information you need to make your decision quickly and easily.

Scores

NuVal scores can be found throughout select Coborn's stores on items from produce to pasta, from granola bars to greens. See our examples of Nuval in action below. Thousands more scores are on Coborn's shelves!

Dr. Katz Introduces Nuval at Coborn's

Listen to Dr. Katz Discuss Nuval

Interview available at blendcentralmn.org

Back to Top

How it Works

Some examples of NuVal in action

Chips	Lays Original Potato Chips	Food Should Taste Good Multigrain Chips	Due to the whole grain ingredients, all natural "Food Should Taste Good" chips have over twice as much dietary fiber as Lay's Original. They also have half the saturated fat and less than half the sodium.
Fruit	Mott's Plain Regular Original Applesauce	Fresh Apple	In making applesauce, the skin and some of the pulp are removed, and along with it fiber and other beneficial nutrients of the whole fruit.
Beverages	Classic Coca-Cola	Arizona Diet Green Tea with Ginseng	What you drink can definitely contribute to your overall nutrition. Traditional Coca Cola scores a 1, with 100% of its calories coming straight from sugar.

How are NuVal Scores Calculated?

The NuVal™ Nutritional Scoring System takes more than 30 different nutrients and nutrition factors into account when developing a Score, making it a very robust food rating system. The nutrient content for a food is processed through a complex algorithm developed through a rigorous process by a team of twelve experts. Boiled down to its simplest description, here is how the NuVal Nutritional Scoring System works: Nutrients with generally favorable effects on health are placed in the numerator, where higher values increase the NuVal Score. Nutrients with generally unfavorable effects on health are placed in the denominator, where higher values decrease the NuVal score.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is NuVal?

A: The NuVal™ Nutritional Scoring System is a food scoring system that allows you to see – at a glance – the nutritional value of the food you buy. NuVal ranks all foods on a scale of 1 to 100; the higher the score, the higher the nutrition. NuVal is a tool you can easily use while shopping at Coborn's to make more nutritious food choices.

Q: Why is Coborn's posting NuVal scores for foods?

A: NuVal provides nutritional guidance that you, our customers, have asked for. While customers appreciate the variety and selection Coborn's provides, our research has shown there's a growing demand for a simple, easy way to find the most nutritious foods on our shelves. NuVal offers nutritional transparency, is backed by solid science, and was created independent of food manufacturers, meaning it's a system you can trust. Recently, NuVal won the endorsement of the American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM), whose mission is to promote health and curb disease.

Scores are placed throughout select Coborn's stores so you can decide what your optimal NuVal score should be in each food category.

We see the NuVal system as an opportunity to do something good for public health in light of the growing rates of lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes, obesity and heart disease. While these trends are disturbing, the good news is that they are reversible, and NuVal can help.

Q: Who developed the NuVal system?

A: NuVal is a science-based food nutrition system that was created independent of Coborn's or any food manufacturer. A team of recognized nutrition and medical experts from leading universities and health organizations drove the development of the Overall Nutritional Quality Index (ONQI™) algorithm, which generates NuVal scores.  

Funded by Griffin Hospital, a non-profit community hospital and teaching affiliate of the Yale University School of Medicine, located in Derby, CT, and home to the Yale -Griffin Prevention Research Center, this team— led by Dr. David Katz— worked for two years to develop the ONQI™ algorithm.

Q: What specific nutrients and factors go into a NuVal Score?

A: The following nutrients and nutrition factors are used in determining a food's NuVal Score

Q: Can NuVal be used for special diets (such as low sodium, low fat, etc.)?

A: NuVal does not reflect special diets, such as low fat or low sodium, and customers looking for specific nutrient levels will still need to review the Nutrition Facts Panel (NFP). However, a higher NuVal score generally reflects a lower quantity of negative nutrients such as sodium and fat.

Q: Are NuVal scores adjusted for "positive" additives such as probiotics?

A: NuVal does not give consideration to non-nutrient food additives at this time, such as probiotics or plant sterols because these items do not add or detract from the nutritional value. Of course, consumers may still benefit from these additives.

Q: Do NuVal Scores consider portion size?

A: No. Since the nutritional quality of a food does not vary with serving size, the NuVal System does not offer guidance for portion size. You still need to choose portion sizes of foods appropriate for your daily needs. However, because it factors in properties that influence satiety, foods that score well on the NuVal System can fill you up on fewer calories, and therefore may be a tool to help consumers consciously manage their own portions.

Q: How many products in a grocery store will have a NuVal Score?

A: It is our goal at Coborn's to have NuVal scores on as many items as possible. Most departments in select Coborn's stores use NuVal scores, such as produce, cookies, crackers, dairy, meats, seafood, cereal, soft drinks, and frozen foods, and we will soon have scores for items in our Deli and Bakery departments. One of the few exceptions is the alcoholic beverages department, which will not have NuVal scores.

If you have additional questions on NuVal, please visit www.nuval.com.

Please note that the NuVal™ website is not managed by Coborn's.