Table 1.

NOVA classification system.

NOVA Category	Definition	Example
NOVA 1	Unprocessed or minimally processed foods	Edible parts of plants, such as seeds, fruits, leaves, or animals, such as unprocessed meat, eggs, milk
NOVA 2	Processed culinary ingredients, which include substances derived from NOVA 1 foods or natural processes	Oils, butter, sugar, or salt
NOVA 3	Processed foods made essentially by adding salt, oil, sugar, or other substances from NOVA 2 to NOVA 1 foods	Bottled vegetables, canned fish, fruits in syrup, cheeses
NOVA 4	Ultra-processed foods made mostly or entirely from substances derived from foods and additives, with little if any intact NOVA 1 foods	Softs, sweet or savoury packaged snacks

Source: Monteiro et al., 2018 [3].