Understanding System Ontologies: Products, Ingredients, and Substances

What is an Ontology?

Product categories are based on a hierarchy (ontology) in the system, meaning entities can have relations such as synonyms, parent-entities, and children-entities. This makes the search system smarter and assures the user of easier pathways to target results.

Using examples of product categories, substances, and ingredients is an easier way to demonstrate the logic of entity ontology and how to use it.

Product Categories Ontology

Product categories follow a strict hierarchy. With this ontology, it is possible to exclude certain associated products (children) and also expand the search to broader "parent" categories when applicable.

• How it works: A user begins by typing a specific term in the search bar. From there, the system will recommend applicable products or product categories. The user can then select the product(s) from the dropdown list and add them to the search. Once done, the user can click on the product to open the hierarchy as per below.

• Refining Results: From this view, the user has the choice of including or excluding items from the list by checking or unchecking them. In this way, the search is easier, as with one item, the subordinated items are also included in the search, and there is no need to type all of them individually. By adjusting these selections, users can target the exact results they are looking for.

Substance Ontology

Similar to products, chemical substances are organized by parent, children, and synonym relations (e.g., PFAS substances).

• Example: By checking and unchecking certain chemical forms of interest, you can narrow down your search results with less effort than typing them one by one. In addition to that, you have insight or control into the exact terminology that the system includes under one term like "PFAS".

Ingredient Ontology

This is specifically developed for Digicomply's ingredient database for food supplements (Nutriwise). It is designed to support ingredient recognition through the complex world of multiple scientific and official names, bridging them with common names.

• How it works: This structure connects heterogeneous groups of ingredients—such as nutrients, botanical substances, and their derivatives (extracts, tinctures)—as well as food additives and flavorings.

• Example: A botanical ingredient like Achillea millefolium is recognized through its scientific name and common names. The system also associates its relevant derivatives (e.g., essential oils) and forms (e.g., powder, concentrate, juice) relevant for aspects of ingredients based on regulations.