Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Grand Forks, North Dakota » Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center » Healthy Body Weight Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #430280
Research Project: Approaches to Dietary and Physical Activity Guidelines Adherence

Location: Healthy Body Weight Research

Title: Healthy_Nova: Introducing a database of foods classified by Nova and by fitness within 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans food groups

Author
item Hess, Julie
item BODENSTEINER, ANNE - University Of North Dakota
item JOHNSON, GUY - University Of Illinois
item Kogan, Kelly
item LEVINE, ALLEN - University Of Minnesota
item MATTES, RICHARD - Purdue University
item RAATZ, SUSAN - University Of Minnesota
item SCHEETT, ANGELA - University Of North Dakota
item SLAVIN, JOANNE - University Of Minnesota

Submitted to: Journal of Food Composition and Analysis
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/19/2026
Publication Date: 2/20/2026
Citation: Hess, J.M., Bodensteiner, A., Johnson, G.H., Kogan, K.M., Levine, A., Mattes, R., Raatz, S., Scheett, A.J., Slavin, J. 2026. Healthy_Nova: Introducing a database of foods classified by Nova and by fitness within 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans food groups. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis. 152. Article 109015. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2026.109015.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2026.109015

Interpretive Summary: This manuscript introduces the Healthy_Nova database, which classifies 744 foods and beverages by how processed they are, using the Nova classification system. Nova classifies all foods into one of four groups: Group 1 (unprocessed/minimally processed foods), Group 2 (processed culinary ingredients), Group 3 (processed foods), Group 4 (ultra-processed foods). The data for this database comes from a series of studies conducted by the USDA-ARS Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center for which 3 external experts classified foods by Nova category and/or by their ability to fit into healthy dietary patterns. Classifications were determined by consensus of two of the three experts. All products in this database were evaluated between July 2022 and December 2024, and 537 products in Healthy_Nova also have ratings for their ability to fit into healthy dietary patterns as defined by the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Technical Abstract: This manuscript introduces the Healthy Nova database. Healthy_Nova contains Nova classifications (group 1, 2, 3, or 4) determined via consensus of two or more experts for over 700 food and beverage products. Many products also include an evaluation of whether they can be included in eating patterns recommended by the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (2020-2025 DGA). Healthy_Nova information was amassed from previous studies on menus developed using Nova. For each study, a minimum of two evaluators assigned a Nova group to each food and beverage using a generic product name and list of ingredients provided in a Qualtrics survey. Some studies also included evaluation of whether foods and beverages could be part of healthy eating patterns in the 2020-2025 DGA.