Open Food Facts - Product Scan 4.15.2

Review:

Open Food Facts, the collaborative scanning app, has been a pioneer in the field since its invention in 2012. Now, as it celebrates its 10th anniversary, the app is undergoing a complete reinvention!

Open Food Facts allows users to conveniently find food products that align with both their personal health goals and their commitment to environmental sustainability. By simply scanning the barcodes of products, users gain access to personalized health and eco-impact information for over 2.3 million foods.

The app prioritizes user privacy, offering the ability to set food preferences without compromising sensitive information. The scan results are categorically color-coded for easy interpretation: green signifies a product that matches the user's criteria, red indicates an issue, and gray prompts users to help improve data accuracy by photographing the products.

One of the standout features of Open Food Facts is its ability to provide tailored comparisons. Users can compare different products within a specific food category within seconds, facilitating informed decision-making.

The app offers an extensive range of food criteria that users can choose from to suit their preferences and needs. These criteria include considerations such as environment, health, additives and ultra-processed foods, salt content, allergens, Nutri-Score (a nutritional quality indicator), and Eco-Score (a synthesis of 16 environmental impacts).

Open Food Facts boasts an extensive database of more than 2.3 million food products that can be scanned, found, and compared with ease.

Users can select products based on two key factors: nutrition and environmental impact. The Nutri-Score grade, ranging from A to E, provides an evaluation of nutritional quality, while the NOVA group scale, from 1 to 4, enables users to avoid ultra-processed foods (Group 4). Additionally, the app highlights the significance of food choices on the planet, with the Eco-Score grade evaluating 16 environmental impacts.

Furthermore, Open Food Facts emphasizes food transparency and collaboration. As a non-profit project made possible by thousands of volunteers worldwide, Open Food Facts operates as "the Wikipedia of food," as aptly dubbed by the press. Users can contribute to the app by providing pictures and data for products that are missing in order to obtain comprehensive information including the Nutri-Score, food processing level (NOVA), and Eco-Score. By actively participating, users can make a meaningful difference.

Open Food Facts goes beyond simply deciphering food labels and provides an extensive range of information. Users can access detailed nutritional information, including Nutri-Score, as well as insights into environmental indicators such as carbon footprint, packaging details including recycling instructions, organic certifications, and ingredient origins. The app also covers allergens, brand information, and traceability details.

The grading system employed by Open Food Facts is grounded in scientific research and aims to support advancements in the field. The Nutri-Score was developed by an independent French team led by Professor Hercberg, while the NOVA food processing groups were established by an international team led by Professor Monteiro. Furthermore, the app's additive synthesis is based on reviews by EFSA on exposure levels of food additives, and the Eco-Score draws on groundbreaking data from ADEME, adapted for global use. Open Food Facts actively collaborates with research teams worldwide to promote collective progress.

Privacy is a top priority for Open Food Facts. Users have the option to utilize the app anonymously, ensuring data confidentiality. The app explicitly safeguards user food-related data and does not transmit it online.

In addition to its food scanning capabilities, Open Food Facts allows users to set up allergen alerts for specific products, enabling individuals with allergies to navigate their shopping experience more efficiently. However, it is essential to note that while Open Food Facts aims to provide accurate information and allergen detection, double-checking with product packaging is always advisable.

To further expand their offerings, Open Food Facts also presents Open Beauty Facts for cosmetic-related needs.

Experience the power of Open Food Facts for better food choices, improved transparency, and enhanced data collaboration! Access the web version at https://world.openfoodfacts.org and for any inquiries or feedback, contact mobile@openfoodfacts.org.