Our Methodology
Evidence-aware. Source-backed. Transparent.
Decision support for better pet choices.
Our methodology explains how iPickPet presents source-backed facts, confidence framing, ingredient interpretation, and review-first scanner output. Evidence-aware readiness work is currently internal and supports explanation review only.
Data Confidence reflects source completeness, not product quality. There is no public product score yet.
No evidence_level is populated, no medical claims are made, and no reviewRating or ratingValue is published.
Evidence-First
We prioritize verified sources and transparent criteria.
Explainable
You can inspect the factors behind active decision-support outputs.
Pet-First
Every decision supports pet wellbeing over marketing.
Runtime Status
Runtime Status (May 29, 2026)
Active now
- - Data Confidence
- - Label Completeness / missing-value behavior
- - Ingredient Classification boundaries
- - Scanner Ingredient Review (review-first)
- - Evidence-aware readiness planning for explanation review only
In development
- - Diet Match Score as formal public methodology
Not active yet
- - Product Score Methodology Placeholder (pending runtime parity)
- - Supplement Review Methodology Placeholder (pending runtime parity)
- - Evidence-linked public scoring
Our Guiding Principles
Independent
Not owned by pet food brands or retailers.
Transparent
Data sources and methodology boundaries are visible.
No Hidden Agendas
No promotional products in ranking logic.
Continuous
Methodology records and public wording update as runtime capabilities evolve.
Expert-Informed
Guided by veterinary nutrition expertise.
Balanced
Tradeoffs include benefits, risks, and context.
What is active in methodology today
Data Confidence
Source completeness framing only. Data Confidence reflects source completeness, not product quality.
Evidence-Aware Readiness
Internal readiness work maps reviewed AAFCO adequacy and life-stage claims to explanation-eligible modules. It does not activate public scoring, populate evidence_level, or rate products.
Label Completeness
Missing-value behavior helps interpretation of coverage gaps. Completeness does not equal correctness or quality.
Ingredient Classification
Educational interpretation boundaries are context-aware. Unresolved ingredients remain reviewable instead of forced into certainty.
Scanner Ingredient Review
Review-first workflow: OCR/manual text is reviewable and not verified truth. Helpful/Caution/Unknown are educational categories, not medical verdicts.
We document sources, confidence boundaries, and methodology status so you can inspect what is active now, what is internal only, and what is still pending.
See Our Data & SourcesData sources and references
iPickPet combines official brand pages, recognized nutrient-profile frameworks, reviewed evidence fixtures, and transparent methodology records. AAFCO adequacy and life-stage claims support label context, not approval, endorsement, superiority, or individual suitability.
Evidence claims support explanation review and do not by themselves rank, rate, diagnose, prove product quality, or populate score or evidence_level fields.