Crohn Scanning

About Crohn Scanning

CrohnScanning is your IBD-aware food companion. Scan a product barcode and instantly see whether its ingredients contain dietary triggers that peer-reviewed research has associated with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis flare risk. Everything is grounded in a science-backed trigger catalog with citations, so you can make informed choices and better conversations with your care team.

This app is for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it is not a medical device. Always consult your gastroenterologist before changing your diet, and never stop or change prescribed medication without medical supervision. Food tolerances vary greatly between individuals with IBD.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

- Barcode scanning: Point your camera at a product barcode. CrohnScanning uses on-device camera scanning and looks the product up in the public Open Food Facts database.
- Trigger matching: Ingredients are matched against a curated IBD trigger catalog covering emulsifiers, artificial sweeteners, preservatives, ultra-processed food markers, processed meats, and selected FODMAP and research items, each with scientific references.
- AI meal analysis (optional): Snap a photo of a meal for an ingredient-level educational breakdown. By default this runs as a clearly labeled educational demo. If you paste your own OpenAI API key in Settings, the photo is sent to OpenAI for analysis; the app does not store your key on any server and does not ship one.
- Best practices: Evidence-based remission and lifestyle strategies drawn from published research (Mediterranean-style eating, exercise, stress management, sleep, and supplements).
- History: Your barcode and meal analyses are saved locally on your device.
- Onboarding disclaimer: A required medical disclaimer is shown before you use the app.

PRIVACY

- No account and no sign-in required.
- Your scan and meal history stays on your device.
- Barcodes are sent to Open Food Facts (a public, non-profit food database) to retrieve product information.
- Meal photos are only sent off device if you choose to enable AI analysis with your own OpenAI API key.
- No ads, no advertising ID, no third-party analytics or tracking SDKs.

WHO IT IS FOR

People living with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, their families, and anyone who wants to understand how common food additives are discussed in the IBD research literature. CrohnScanning helps you spot potential triggers on a label in seconds so you can eat with more confidence.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER

CrohnScanning does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and cannot detect medical emergencies. Seek immediate care for severe abdominal pain, significant rectal bleeding, high fever, severe dehydration, or inability to pass stool with pain. Nothing in this app replaces professional healthcare. Trigger classifications reflect published research and general patterns, not personalized guidance; individual responses to foods differ.