SmartChoice: Ingredient Scan

SmartChoice scans the barcode on a packaged food — or the ingredient list itself — and tells you in seconds what is really inside.

A CLEAR VERDICT, NOT A NUMBER YOU HAVE TO INTERPRET
Every scan comes back Approved, Caution, or Not Approved, with a 0–100 score and the arithmetic behind it. No vague grades, no points to decode: if three ingredients are flagged, you see which three and what each deduction cost.

TAP ANY INGREDIENT TO SEE WHY
Flagged ingredients carry a plain-English reason and, where one exists, the regulator behind it — so when aspartame requires a label warning in the EU and the US, you see exactly that. Ingredient text is highlighted in place, so you can find the offending words on the label in your hand.

NO BARCODE? SCAN THE LABEL
If a product will not scan, or is not in the database, photograph the ingredient list and SmartChoice reads it with on-device text recognition and scores the text instead. You can also paste or type an ingredient list.

PROCESSING LEVEL, SEPARATELY
Every verdict shows its NOVA processing group alongside the verdict, because "approved" and "ultra-processed" are different questions and a single grade hides one of them.

BETTER OPTIONS, WHEN THERE ARE ANY
Where we have approved alternatives in the same category, they appear on the verdict.

BROWSE APPROVED PICKS BY STORE
See what is approved at the chains you actually shop at. These shelves are built from scans and receipts rather than a retailer feed, so they grow over time and availability varies by location.

YOUR HISTORY STAYS ON YOUR PHONE
Every scan is saved locally and reopens instantly — including with no connection at all, because the full verdict is stored on the device, not re-fetched.

WORKS WITHOUT AN ACCOUNT — AND MORE WITH ONE
Scanning, verdicts and history need no account: open it and scan. Sign in with Google if you want SmartChoice to check products against your own allergens, diets and health conditions.

PHOTO REVIEWS FROM OTHER SHOPPERS
Customers can add a photo review of a product, and see the ones others have added. Every review is checked by a person before it appears, any review can be reported from inside the app, and any contributor can be blocked.

WHAT THIS VERSION DOES NOT DO
Video reviews are iOS-only for now; on Android you can post photos.

NOT ADVICE
SmartChoice verdicts are editorial opinions based on publicly available science and regulatory data. They are not medical, dietary or regulatory advice. Always read the label, and talk to a professional about medicines or health conditions.

Product data from Open Food Facts (CC-BY-SA 3.0). As an Amazon Associate, SmartChoice earns from qualifying purchases.