📊 How to Read the VetKriter Score
A Guide to Correctly Interpreting a Scientific Score
The VetKriter Score was developed not to declare a food product as simply "good" or "bad", but to assess nutritional suitability for a specific animal profile using scientific criteria.
1️⃣ What Does the VetKriter Score Mean?
The VetKriter Score (0–100) is calculated by evaluating a food under four main categories:
| Category | Max. Score | What Is Measured? |
|---|---|---|
| Macronutrient Compliance | 40 | Suitability of protein, fat, carbohydrate, and fiber for species and life stage |
| Ingredient Quality | 30 | Quality of protein source and ingredient transparency |
| Life Stage Criteria | 15 | Goal-specific components such as taurine, L-carnitine, omega-3 |
| Safety & Purity | 15 | Ambiguous sources, sugar, artificial additives |
Important: The score does not consider brand size, price, or marketing claims.
2️⃣ Why Can the Same Food Get Different Scores?
VetKriter deliberately rejects the "one food – one score" approach.
The same product;
- Cat / Dog
- Kitten/Puppy / Adult / Neutered / Senior
- Dry / Wet food
- Therapeutic / Regular diet
may receive different scores based on these criteria.
Because: Nutritional science does not operate independently of context.
3️⃣ VetKriter Score Ranges
| Score Range | Grade | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 90–100 | A+ | Excellent fit for species and life stage |
| 80–89 | A | Very high fit, minor gaps may exist |
| 70–79 | B+ | Good level of fit |
| 60–69 | B | Acceptable, use with caution |
| 50–59 | C+ | Limited suitability |
| 40–49 | C | Low suitability |
| 30–39 | D | Insufficient |
| 0–29 | F | Not suitable for this profile |
4️⃣ What Do Mid-Range Scores (60–79) Mean?
This range is the most commonly misunderstood.
- The food is not "bad"
- But it may not be ideal for every animal
- Typically, score loss occurs due to:
- High carbohydrate content
- Average protein source quality
- Lack of functional components
These scores mean: "Usable but should be used with awareness."
5️⃣ How to Interpret Scores for Therapeutic Diets?
Therapeutic diets (renal, hypoallergenic, urinary, etc.) are evaluated with a separate algorithm.
For these products:
- Macronutrient flexibility is greater
- Clinical goals take priority
- The score is not used for direct comparison with regular foods
Therapeutic scores are meaningful within their own class.
6️⃣ What the VetKriter Score Is NOT
To be clear:
- ❌ Does not replace a veterinary examination
- ❌ Is not a clinical diagnosis or treatment recommendation
- ❌ Does not pass judgment on brand reputation
- ❌ Is not used to say "don't buy this food"
VetKriter Score: a tool that supports informed decision-making.
7️⃣ Final Words
The VetKriter Score is nutritional science translated into numbers.
When read correctly:
- ✅ Empowers users with knowledge
- ✅ Drives companies toward transparency
- ✅ Shifts debate from emotion to data
And most importantly: makes information accessible to everyone.