Editorial Policy

By Dr. Elena Vasquez, RDN, PhD · Published January 15, 2026 · Updated May 24, 2026 · Last reviewed May 24, 2026 · Reviewed by Dr. Theodore Brennan, MD, MSc

Nutrition App Rankings exists to answer one question honestly: which nutrition tracking app should a given person actually use. This policy sets out how we keep that answer independent, evidence-led, and accountable.

Independence

No app developer pays for inclusion, ranking position, or a more favorable review. We hold no equity in any reviewed app, and no member of the editorial board has a consulting, employment, or advisory relationship with a reviewed company. Funding and any commercial relationships are set out in our affiliate disclosure.

How we evaluate

Apps are scored against a published, weighted rubric, not a writer's impression. The five categories, their weights, and the exact measurements behind each are documented on the methodology page. Scores derive from in-app testing, a reference-meal accuracy protocol, and reference data from USDA FoodData Central. Where a claim rests on peer-reviewed evidence, we cite the source with a resolvable DOI rather than a self-published study.

Review and sign-off

Every ranking and ranking change is medically reviewed by Dr. Theodore Brennan, MD, MSc, before publication. Reviews and comparisons carry a named author and a named reviewer in the byline, each linking to a full profile on our editorial board page.

Sources and evidence standards

Primary nutrient reference: USDA FoodData Central, with Open Food Facts as a secondary international reference.
Scientific claims are cited to peer-reviewed, indexed literature with a DOI.
Pricing and feature claims reflect direct in-app testing on iOS and Android and are re-checked each monthly refresh.
We do not cite unindexed, self-published, or anonymous "validation" studies as evidence.

Conflicts of interest

Board members disclose any relationship that could affect a review. A member with a conflict on a specific app recuses from scoring or reviewing that app. The medical reviewer maintains a clinical practice independent of Nutrition App Rankings.

Corrections

We correct factual errors promptly and log them publicly. If you spot an error, email editorial@nutrition-app-rankings.com. Our process and the running log live on the corrections page.