Nova classification

The Nova classification grew out of the research of Carlos Augusto Monteiro. Born in 1948 into a family straddling the divide between poverty and relative affluence in Brazil, Monteiro's journey began as the first member of his family to attend university.[4] His early research in the late 1970s focused on malnutrition, reflecting the prevailing emphasis in nutrition science of the time.[5][6] In the mid-1990s, Monteiro observed a significant shift in Brazil's dietary landscape marked by a rise in obesity rates among economically disadvantaged populations, while more affluent areas saw declines. This transformation led him to explore dietary patterns holistically, rather than focusing solely on individual nutrients. Employing statistical methods, Monteiro identified two distinct eating patterns in Brazil: one rooted in traditional foods like rice and beans and another characterized by the consumption of highly processed products.[7]

The classification's name is from the title of the original scientific article in which it was published, 'A new classification of foods' (Portuguese: Uma nova classificação de alimentos).[8] The idea of applying this as the classification's name is credited to Jean-Claude Moubarac of the Université de Montréal.[4] The name is often styled in capital letters, NOVA, but it is not an acronym.[9] Recent scientific literature leans towards writing the name as Nova, including papers written with Monteiro's involvement.[10][11][12]

The Nova framework presents four food groups, defined according the nature, extent, and purpose of industrial food processing applied.[9] Databases such as Open Food Facts provide Nova classifications for commercial products based on analysis of their categories and ingredients.[13] Assigning foods to these categories is most straightforward if information is available on food preparation and composition.[10]

The classification's attention to social aspects of food give it an intuitive character. This makes it an effective communication tool in public health promotion, since it builds on consumers' established perceptions.[14][15] At the same time, this characteristic has led some scientists to question whether Nova is suitable for scientific control.[16] By contrast, researchers have successfully developed a quantitative definition for hyperpalatable food.[17] Both proponents and opponents of Nova 'agree that food processing vitally affects human health', but not on its definition of ultra-processing.[18][19][20]

Group 1: Unprocessed or minimally processed foods

Nova group 1 label

Unprocessed foods are edible parts of plants and animals, along with algae, fungi, and water.

This group also includes minimally processed foods, which are unprocessed foods modified through industrial methods such as the removal of unwanted parts, crushing, drying, fractioning, grinding, pasteurization, non-alcoholic fermentation, freezing, and other preservation techniques that maintain the food's integrity and do not introduce salt, sugar, oils, fats, or other culinary ingredients. Additives are absent in this group.

Examples include fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, grains, legumes, fresh meat, eggs, milk, plain yogurt, and natural spices.[2]

Group 2: Processed culinary ingredients

Nova group 2 label

Processed culinary ingredients are derived from group 1 foods or else from nature by processes such as pressing, refining, grinding, milling, and drying. It also includes substances mined or extracted from nature. These ingredients are primarily used in seasoning and cooking group 1 foods and preparing dishes from scratch. They are typically free of additives, but some products in this group may include added vitamins or minerals, such as iodized salt.

Examples include oils produced through crushing seeds, nuts, or fruits (such as olive oil), salt, sugar, vinegar, starches, honey, syrups extracted from trees, butter, and other substances used to season and cook.[2]

Group 3: Processed foods

Nova group 3 label

Processed foods are relatively simple food products produced by adding processed culinary ingredients (group 2 substances) such as salt to unprocessed (group 1) foods.

Processed foods are made or preserved through baking, boiling, canning, bottling, and non-alcoholic fermentation. They often use additives to enhance shelf life, protect the properties of unprocessed food, or prevent the spread of microorganisms, but they do not include cosmetic additives.

Examples include cheese, canned vegetables, salted nuts, fruits in syrup, and dried or canned fish. Breads, pastries, cakes, biscuits, snacks, and some meat products fall into this group when they are made predominantly from group 1 foods with the addition of group 2 ingredients.[2]

Group 4: Ultra-processed foods

Nova group 4 label

Ultra-processed foods are formulations of ingredients, mostly of exclusive industrial use, typically created by series of industrial techniques and processes. Unprocessed (group 1) foods often compose a small proportion of their ingredients or are even lacking entirely. Ultra-processing often introduces food substances of little or no culinary use, such as hydrogenated oil, modified starch, protein isolate, and high-fructose corn syrup.

The manufacturing processes for ultra-processed foods typically involve techniques such as extrusion, moulding, and pre-frying, along with the addition of various cosmetic additives, including those for flavour enhancement and colour.

Examples include carbonated soft drinks, reconstituted fruit juices, margarine, reconstituted meat products, plant-based meat substitutes, and some breakfast cereals. Certain bakery items, snacks, flavoured yogurts, candies, and ready-to-heat dishes also fall into this category when they contain food substances of no culinary value or cosmetic additives.[2]

The Nova classification has been increasingly used to evaluate the relationship between the extent of food processing and health outcomes. Several epidemiological studies have linked the consumption of ultra-processed foods with obesity, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, depression, and various types of cancer.[21]

Researchers conclude that the creation of ultra-processed foods is primarily motivated by economic considerations within the food industry. The processes and ingredients used for these foods are specifically designed to maximize profitability by incorporating low-cost ingredients, ensuring long shelf-life, and emphasizing branding.[22] Furthermore, ultra-processed foods are engineered to be convenient and hyperpalatable, making them a potential replacement for other food groups within the Nova classification, particularly unprocessed or minimally processed foods.[2] As a result, researchers and public health campaigners are using the Nova classification as a means to enhance both human health outcomes and food sustainability.[23]

The system has also been used to inform food and nutrition policies in several countries and international organizations. For example, the Pan American Health Organization has adopted the Nova classification in its dietary guidelines.[24]

In 2014, the Ministry of Health of Brazil published new dietary guidelines based in part on Nova, crediting Carlos Monteiro as the coordinator. These recommend a 'golden rule', 'Always prefer natural or minimally processed foods and freshly made dishes and meals to ultra-processed foods.' They also set out recommendations corresponding to the Nova groups:[25][26]

1. Make natural or minimally processed foods, in great variety, mainly of plant origin, and preferably produced with agro-ecological methods, the basis of your diet.
2. Use oils, fats, salt and sugar in small amounts for seasoning and cooking foods and to create culinary preparations.
3. Limit the use of processed foods, consuming them in small amounts as ingredients in culinary preparations or as part of meals based on natural or minimally processed foods.
4. Avoid ultra-processed products.[9]

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations recognized these as the first national dietary guidelines to emphasize 'the social and economic aspects of sustainability, advising people to be wary of advertising, for example, and to avoid ultra-processed foods that are not only bad for health but are seen to undermine traditional food cultures. They stand in contrast to the largely environmental definition of sustainability adopted in the other guidelines.'[27][28]

The Nova classification does not comment on the nutritional value of food and can be combined with a labelling system such as Nutri-Score to provide comprehensive guidance on healthy eating.[13][29]