In recent months, the free mobile app Yuka has gained popularity among consumers keen on assessing the healthiness of their food and cosmetic products. The app allows users to scan barcodes, providing in-depth information about the items they are considering for purchase. While it makes recommendations for healthier alternatives, it has sparked a debate about the reliability of its data and potential effects on consumer behaviour.

Users of Yuka input products, from oat milk to toothpaste, and receive health ratings based on a combination of additives, nutritional content, and potential health risks. For instance, one user discovered that their children’s fish fingers contained a texturising agent associated with an increased risk of breast cancer and other health issues. Similarly, the app identified additives in various products that were alarming, such as titanium dioxide, banned in the EU as a food additive due to its potential carcinogenic properties.

The app’s ratings employ a colour system: red signifies a bad score, amber represents poor, while shades of green indicate good and excellent. These ratings have prompted some users to discard numerous items from their kitchens and bathrooms, questioning the safety of commonly used products. For instance, the user noted that their previously harmless-seeming pink antibacterial hand soap was flagged for containing octinoxate, suspected of being an endocrine disruptor.

Interest in apps like Yuka has surged as public scrutiny of ultra-processed foods grows. A study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine estimated that nearly 18,000 premature deaths in the UK were attributed to the consumption of such foods. The increasing unease surrounding food safety was further highlighted by a recent BBC Panorama report that scrutinised baby food pouches from leading brands, revealing dangerously high sugar levels.

However, critics highlight potential downsides to this obsession with product scanning. Some health experts caution that relying too heavily on these apps can create unnecessary anxiety about food choices—what some describe as a “clean eating” obsession. For example, Dr Alex Richardson, an expert in child nutrition, noted that while some additives may pose concerns, the focus should remain on the nutritional value of foods rather than succumbing to fear-based marketing tactics.

The Yuka app claims to derive its assessments from evidence provided by various health authorities, including the European Food Safety Authority and the World Health Organisation. Users, however, express doubts about the algorithms that underpin the scoring system, questioning whether the removal of products based solely on the presence of certain additives is justified. Critics contend that the lack of detail regarding the quantity of these additives detracts from the utility of the app.

A Yuka spokesperson defended the app’s approach, asserting that it aims to empower consumers with accessible information rather than instilling fear. According to them, the app encourages users to make more informed decisions by recommending healthier alternatives while basing its assessments on scientific studies and collective assessment reports.

Nonetheless, experts like Dr Kremlin Wickramasinghe from the WHO caution against singular reliance on one app or scoring system, noting that many are developed by industry stakeholders with potential biases. There is also concern about the variability of these apps across different countries and the absence of a universal framework for assessing nutritional quality.

Looking ahead, health professionals, including Dr Caroline Taylor from the University of Bristol, suggest that moderation is key. They argue that portion sizes and frequency of consumption ultimately dictate the healthfulness of a product.

As users like the aforementioned parent navigate the fine line between informed choices and overzealous scrutiny, the overarching question remains: how useful are such apps in making dietary decisions? While Yuka and its competitors may provide guidance, experts agree that a balanced perspective—and perhaps a return to cooking from scratch—may still be the best approach for health-conscious consumers.

Source: Noah Wire Services