Is tracking your food purchases good for your health?
The Yuka app has gained significant popularity in Europe and beyond for allowing consumers to scan food and cosmetic products to receive health-based ratings. While it helps users make informed choices, it can also lead to increased grocery bills and shopping anxiety.
Why it matters
It reflects the growing consumer demand for transparency in food production and the impact of digital health tools on daily habits.
Image source, John Laurenson Image caption, Nathalie using the Yuka app
With a packet of biscuits in one hand and her smartphone in the other in the biscuits sucrées aisle of her local Hyper U supermarket west of Paris, Nathalie sees red. Literally.
"Look at that!" she says showing me her phone. 0/100 is marked in red lettering.
"This is one of Malo's [her 12-year-old son's] favourites but it's not only full of sugar and saturated fats, there are four additives as well including one health risk," she says.
Nathalie clicks on the additive in question: E450. "A mineral which, taken in excess, can lead to bone marrow and kidney problems," she reads.
"Honestly, that they can put this sort of thing in food aimed at children drives me nuts!" she says.
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