Product Ingredient Scanner Tips
How to use ingredient scanner apps effectively and what to watch out for when checking products for allergens.
Why Ingredient Scanners Matter
Ingredient scanner apps can be helpful tools, but they're not foolproof. Understanding their limitations and how to use them properly is crucial for staying safe.
These apps work by scanning barcodes and matching them to databases, but they can miss cross-contamination risks, manufacturing changes, or products not yet in their system.
Best Practices
- 1. Always read the physical label too. Apps can be outdated or miss recent recipe changes. The label is the legal source of truth.
- 2. Check for "may contain" warnings. Many scanners focus on ingredients but miss cross-contamination warnings, which are just as important.
- 3. Verify manufacturing information. Products can be reformulated. Check the date and batch code if the app shows it's been a while since the last scan.
- 4. Use multiple sources. If an app says a product is safe but you're unsure, cross-reference with the manufacturer's website or call them directly.
- 5. Report errors. If you find incorrect information, report it to the app developers. This helps keep the database accurate for everyone.
What Scanners Can't Tell You
- × Cross-contamination risks from shared production lines
- × Recent recipe changes that haven't been updated in the database
- × Regional variations in ingredients (same product, different country)
- × Manufacturing facility changes that affect cross-contamination risk
- × Processing methods that aren't always listed, such as alcohol filtered through almond shells (e.g., Bombay Sapphire gin), wine finings using fish-derived products like isinglass, or pet food containing allergens like peanut butter or lupin (e.g., THE PACK No-Fishy Dishy)
Recommended Apps
While we don't endorse specific apps, here are some popular options to research:
- • Spoon Guru — UK-focused with detailed allergen information
- • Fig — Allows customisation of dietary restrictions
- • Open Food Facts — Open-source database with community contributions
Always verify app information with the product label and manufacturer when in doubt.
The Bottom Line
Ingredient scanners are useful tools, but they should complement—not replace—careful label reading and manufacturer verification. When dealing with severe allergies, there's no substitute for reading the actual product label and, when necessary, contacting the manufacturer directly.