Trust Through Transparency
Independent, standards-based food certification for families and brands.
The American Food Institute helps families make informed choices and helps responsible brands stand out—by applying clear, globally recognized regulatory standards to modern food products.
Why Food Transparency Matters More Than Ever
Today's food labels are complex. Ingredient lists are long. Claims are inconsistent. Global regulatory standards vary by region. Families are left to figure it out on their own.
AFI brings clarity, consistency, and trust.
Instead:
AFI synthesizes existing global regulatory guidance—from EFSA, FDA, WHO/JECFA, Health Canada, FSANZ, and the UK FSA—into a single, transparent certification that families can understand.
AFI is an independent nonprofit governed by experts and community voices.
We do not create new scientific standards.
We do not build or operate AI systems.
We do not make dietary recommendations.
A Clear, Independent Certification Process
AFI issues certification through a simple 3-step process:
Evidence-Based Product Evaluation(Via Technology Partner)
AFI partners with advanced technology platforms that analyze ingredients against global regulatory datasets.
This provides a structured regulatory dossier containing:
- ingredient classifications
- global regulatory statuses
- additive density
- transparency flags
- processing indicators
This evaluation is powered by the technology provider—not AFI. AFI remains independent from all AI systems.
Expert Human Review(AFI Nutritionist)
An AFI-appointed nutritionist manually reviews the dossier using the AFI Certification Rulebook, which is based entirely on existing regulatory guidance.
No automated scoring.
No AI-driven approvals.
Certification decisions are human, independent, and standards-based.
The AFI Seal of Transparency
If a product meets all AFI criteria, it earns the AFI Seal—a symbol of responsible formulation and clear, honest labeling.
The seal helps families instantly recognize products that:
- comply with global regulatory positions
- avoid excessive additive combinations
- disclose all sub-ingredients
- maintain transparency and integrity
- follow responsible processing practices
The AFI Standard: Clear. Conservative. Evidence-Aligned.
AFI certification is built on five pillars:
1. Global Regulatory Compliance
All ingredients must align with major regulatory bodies. Globally banned or restricted substances disqualify a product.
2. Responsible Additive Use
No excessive emulsifiers, gums, stabilizers, or redundant formulations.
3. Label Transparency
Full disclosure of ingredients and sub-ingredients. No ambiguous terms ("natural flavors," "spices," "color added") unless clarified.
4. Nutritional Clarity
Complete nutrition facts panel and reasonable serving size. No dietary advice or health claims from AFI.
5. Processing Indicators
Transparent identification of heavily processed or industrial ingredients.
AFI does not judge lifestyle choices or diets—our focus is clarity.
Understand Your Label
Curious about an ingredient? Use this tool for a simple, factual definition.
This tool provides informational clarity, not dietary advice, in line with AFI's mission.
For Families
AFI helps families cut through marketing language, ingredient confusion, and regulatory complexity—so they can make confident decisions at the grocery store.
For Brands
Responsible brands can now stand out with a clear, independent certification rooted in global standards, not marketing language.
Who We Are
The American Food Institute is a nonprofit organization based in San Francisco.
We exist to promote clarity, transparency, and trust in the modern food system.
We do not accept funding that influences certification decisions. We maintain strict separation between nonprofit governance and any technology partners.
Our work is guided by:
- nutrition experts
- public-health professionals
- scientific advisors
- community voices
- independent governance
Bring Transparency to Your Product
Responsible formulation and honest labeling deserve recognition.
The AFI Seal helps families choose products aligned with globally recognized standards.