Scoring methodology · Probiotics
Every probiotic product is evaluated against 6 rules, worth a total of 109 points. Your score is the percentage of points the product earns on what we actually know about it.
Quality score
Each rule contributes points up to a known maximum. We sum them, divide by the total possible, and that's the headline number on the product.
Unknowns
If we couldn't verify an attribute, that rule earns zero. Brands aren't rewarded for non-disclosure, and we don't fill the gap with a guess.
clean_ingredients
No harmful contaminants flagged. Severity- and amount-weighted against food guidelines (per-serving MADL) using the shared food-path penalty math.
lab_indexed
A full third-party lab report has been indexed for this product. Probiotics carry an unusually high lab-data signal because strain identity and CFU claims are hard to verify without independent testing.
strain_disclosure
Brand discloses the specific bacterial strains used (genus + species + strain ID where claimed) — not just "probiotic blend." Strain-level transparency is the single most important quality signal for probiotics.
cfu_disclosure
CFU (colony-forming units) per serving. Disclosure at expiry — "guaranteed potency through expiration" — is the gold standard; CFU only at manufacture is partial credit because probiotic counts decline in storage.
synbiotic
Product includes a prebiotic (inulin, FOS, GOS, partially-hydrolyzed guar gum, etc.) alongside the probiotic. Synbiotics show better persistence and clinical outcomes than probiotics alone.
packaging
Container material. Glass and paper-based score at the top; PET and polystyrene at the bottom. Capsules and sachets without a material signal land mid-tier (typically plastic in production data).
Scoring is a function applied to evidence. If you think a rule fired on the wrong evidence, the per-product breakdown shows the source for every contribution — each one is challengeable. The methodology itself is version-controlled and evolves in public.
