Useful
Protein bar to protein bar
A like for like alternative in the same category, scored the same way.
Sláinte Recommendations
More than a score.
A score tells you where a product lands.
A recommendation helps you decide what to look at next.
When a product scores Poor or Bad, Sláinte shows a comparable product from the same shelf that scores better using the same method. Sláinte+ members see every better option on every product, and swaps for their own lowest-scoring scans.
Why recommendations matter
Knowing that one product scores 63 and another scores 91 is useful.
Knowing why they differ is more useful.
Sláinte can surface the relevant differences so you can understand what changed.
Recommendations should be comparable
Every product is placed on one of more than 150 shelves, from Greek yoghurt and sliced bread to shower gel and washing-up liquid. A swap only ever comes from the same shelf, and food is never swapped for a wash or a cleaner.
Not useful
Protein bar to salad
Different purpose, so the comparison tells you very little.
- Same shelf, and the same kind of product: a chocolate milk never replaces a chocolate bar
- At least 8 points higher on the Sláinte Score
- No worse on the reason people buy it, so a protein bar swap keeps its protein
- Irish and UK products ranked first
- If nothing qualifies, Sláinte says so rather than suggesting filler
The recommendation should help answer one question: if I want something like this, is there a better option?
What Sláinte can explain
A recommendation may highlight differences in:
- Protein
- Sugar
- Fibre
- Saturated fat
- Salt
- Ingredient complexity
- Added ingredients
- Other category specific factors
Only real, measured differences per 100 g are listed, such as "7 g less sugar per 100 g" or "No artificial sweeteners detected". Brand never affects the ranking, and there are no paid placements.
Related guides
Sláinte recommendations are based on product information and Sláinte's scoring methodology. They do not account for medical conditions, medications, allergies, pregnancy, or other individual circumstances unless Sláinte explicitly introduces a validated personalisation feature.