nutripoints was developed by doctor of public health roy e. vartabedian during the 1980s and was released in 1990 with his book, "nutripoints", which was published in thirteen countries in ten languages. the food-rating system is part of a program to help people measure, balance, and upgrade their diet for improvement in well-being. the system rates over 3,600 foods, from apples and oranges to fast foods and brand-name products.