New AI-powered nutrition scoring system aims to improve health equity across the US

Journey Foods, an AI-driven supply chain platform, and Goodr, a sustainable food waste management company have partnered to launch a pilot nutrition scoring system aimed at improving health outcomes for communities across the United States. The partnership, supported by the University of Louisville’s Health Equity Innovation Challenge, will harness data-driven solutions to address health disparities by transforming food access and consumer nutrition.

At the heart of this collaboration is Journey Foods’ Journey Nutrition Score—a 0–100 scale that provides a comprehensive summary of a product’s overall nutritional quality. The system, informed by recommendations from Belgian, Spanish, German, Dutch, and New Zealand authorities and welcomed by the World Health Organization, is designed to empower consumers to make healthier food choices through transparent labelling.

The scoring model will first be tested in grocery stores in Atlanta, Georgia, and Louisville, Kentucky, before rolling out to additional supermarkets, hospitals, and community markets nationwide. By providing clear, accessible nutritional data, the project aims to encourage healthier eating habits and address food insecurity.

“This partnership is a transformative step toward reimagining grocery models to prioritise health and accessibility,” said Riana Lynn, CEO of Journey Foods.

Lynn highlighted its potential to disrupt unhealthy dietary norms in the US, where over 60 percent of calories consumed come from ultra-processed foods—a significant contributor to chronic illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease. Journey Foods’ extensive database, which includes over 157,000 ingredients and millions of recipe scores, will play a key role in delivering accurate and actionable nutrition insights.

“Access to nutritious food is a fundamental right”

Jasmine Crowe, founder of Goodr, also shared the importance of the nutrition scoring system. “At Goodr, we believe access to nutritious food is a fundamental right, not a privilege,” Crowe said.

“By integrating data-driven nutrition scoring, we’re empowering communities with vital information to make healthier choices and build a future where everyone has sufficient access to quality, wholesome food.”

The partnership aims to bridge the gap in nutrition education and food accessibility by guiding consumers toward high-nutrition products, especially in areas where healthier options are scarce.

If successful, the initiative could provide a roadmap for addressing food insecurity and improving health outcomes in communities across the US.