What sources does Mira use to analyse food additives?

Mira's assessment of each food additive is built on the scientific evidence available today for that specific additive. We aim to weigh the full body of research rather than rely on a single opinion.

Two kinds of sources sit at the core of the analysis:

• Official assessments from recognised scientific bodies and regulators. These are collective reports from health authorities and independent scientific institutions that study the safety of food additives.

• Independent scientific studies, grouped by their level of evidence. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses carry the most weight; next come cohort and case-control studies, then preclinical research, and finally expert opinion. Only the most reliable publications make it into the picture.

Once the sources have been reviewed, each additive is given a risk level that shapes the product's overall rating:

• No risk — does not lower the rating;

• Limited risk — lowers the rating slightly;

• Moderate risk — lowers the rating noticeably;

• High risk — caps the rating: even a single such additive pushes the product into the lower bands ('Poor' / 'Bad'), regardless of the rest of its composition.

You can see the potential risks for each additive, along with links to the scientific sources, right inside the app — under the product card.

Our assessment looks beyond the mere presence of an additive. We also consider the levels it is likely to be present at and its overall impact across the population. Some additives appear in small amounts but turn up in many different products, creating a cumulative effect that, for certain groups of people, can approach or exceed safe thresholds.

Even when an additive's level meets current regulations and is considered safe by regulators, Mira follows the precautionary principle and flags potential health risks — including those that, for now, remain scientific suspicions rather than settled facts.

We update the analysis regularly to reflect the current state of science and changes in legislation.

The rating is Mira's opinion. The words 'Excellent', 'Good', 'Poor' and 'Bad' refer to the rating, not to the product itself.