1. Organiser and scope
The European Nutrition Society (ENS), Swiss UID CHE-236.572.275, organises Nutrition Excellence Awards. The programme recognises defined products and nutrition ingredients assessed against published criteria.
Entries may be submitted throughout the year for foods, beverages, food supplements, specialised nutrition and nutrition ingredients. The application must identify the assessed version, intended users, use and market. An award does not extend to a whole organisation, brand, unassessed variant or finished product containing an awarded ingredient.
The programme is non-commercial in its award decisions: there is no entry or assessment fee, and neither a purchase nor a commercial relationship gives an entry preference. ENS does not confer regulatory authorisation, product certification or individual medical advice through an award.
2. Entry and evidence
The applicant must be authorised to act for the product or ingredient owner, provide accurate information and hold the rights needed to share the submitted material.
A submission acknowledgement confirms receipt, not completeness or eligibility. Assessment begins after a complete application is accepted for review. Information requests, responses and review updates are recorded in the account. Applicants may withdraw before a decision.
- Submit the application and supporting evidence online. Physical samples are neither required nor assessed.
- Identify the product, formulation or specification, version, market, composition, intended use and warnings.
- Connect material statements to evidence, explaining relevance, limitations and any reliance on a different product, dose or population.
- Disclose relevant safety concerns, market restrictions, recalls and changes that may affect the assessment.
- Keep confidential evidence in the private dossier. Provide a separate factual description for publication if awarded.
- Do not upload patient identifiers, unlawful material or documents you have no right to share.
3. Assessment and decisions
Two appropriately qualified reviewers assess each complete entry independently. Relevant interests must be declared and cleared before access to the dossier.
All seven mandatory requirements must be satisfied. The five criteria are weighted: nutritional rationale 30%, evidence 30%, composition and quality 20%, responsible information 10%, and practical use and transparency 10%. Each is scored from 0 to 5; half-point scores are permitted.
An award requires at least 80 points out of 100, with at least 4 out of 5 in nutritional rationale and evidence, and at least 3 out of 5 in each remaining criterion. A high total cannot compensate for a failed mandatory requirement or a score below these minima.
A further independent review is required if reviewers disagree on a mandatory requirement or award eligibility, or their total scores differ by more than 10 points. The final decision records the outcome, assessed scope, reasons, limitations and resolution of material differences. Entry alone creates no entitlement to an award.
4. Free benefits and publication
An awarded entry receives an electronic certificate, a public ENS Awards Register record and permission to use the supplied digital mark within its approved scope, without charge.
Publication follows a separate check of the approved identity, version, market, scope, statement and certificate. The applicant receives a publication notice when the certificate and public record are available. Confidential evidence and private reviewer comments are not published.
The register identifies the product or ingredient, organisation, assessed version and market, award reference, decision date, criteria version, public explanation and mark-use status. Applicants accept this minimum record as a condition of receiving an award. Factual corrections preserve an audit history and may require a replacement certificate.
5. Mark use, product changes and withdrawal
Mark-use permission lasts 24 calendar months from the award decision unless suspended or withdrawn earlier. The register shows the end date and current status.
Use the mark only for the named version, market and scope, with the supplied artwork and award year intact. Public statements must not imply regulatory approval, clinical certification, universal suitability or endorsement of unrelated products. Local advertising and labelling requirements continue to apply.
Report material changes to formulation, specification, intended users, use, market or ownership before using the award on the changed product. ENS may require clarification or reassessment. Ingredient awards do not authorise mark use on downstream finished products. Specialist nutrition permissions may restrict consumer-facing use.
ENS may suspend permission while examining a material concern and may withdraw permission where the basis of the award no longer holds, information is materially inaccurate or use breaches these rules. The recipient is informed of the reason and any required action. A status change is shown in the register; historic decisions remain identifiable. Stop new use when permission expires, is suspended or is withdrawn.
6. Optional purchases
Trophies, printed certificates and physical labels are optional and charged separately. Requesting, accepting, declining or cancelling an order has no effect on assessment, appeal, free certificate access, publication or the award decision.
A quotation must identify the item specification, personalisation, quantity, delivery destination, total cost and applicable terms before acceptance. Personalised production requires approval of the exact proof version. Separate purchase terms apply to fulfilment; an order does not extend award scope or mark-use permission.
7. Appeals, concerns and rule versions
A procedural appeal may be submitted within 30 calendar days of the decision. State the procedural issue and supporting references. The appeal is considered independently of those responsible for the disputed action. Disagreement with a score alone is not a procedural ground.
Reports of inaccurate records, misuse or conflicts of interest may be submitted through the concern form. Confidentiality and the rights of those involved are considered when examining and responding to a report.
The accepted entry records its governing criteria version. A later revision is not applied retrospectively to alter an issued decision. Changes required by law or a material safety concern may affect continued mark use and are recorded with the reason. This version took effect on 13 October 2026.