About Honest Scan

Your evidence-based food truth companion

Our Mission

Honest Scan helps consumers instantly understand the real health, safety, and ethical profile of foods and ingredients. We believe everyone deserves access to clear, honest, evidence-based information about what they eat.

Our app analyzes E-additives, checks for allergens, and provides personalized recommendations based on your dietary preferences—all through a simple barcode scan.

How It Works

1. Scan or Enter Barcode

Use your device camera to scan a product barcode, or enter it manually. We fetch product data from OpenFoodFacts, a free, open database of food products.

2. Analyze Ingredients

Our system parses the ingredients list to detect E-numbers (food additives) and cross-references them with our curated database of additive safety information.

3. Assess Risk Level

Each additive is classified using our traffic-light system (Green, Yellow, Orange, Red) based on scientific evidence, regulatory status, and health concerns.

4. Check Preferences

We check ingredients against your personal allergen filters and dietary preferences (vegan, vegetarian, halal, kosher) to flag any violations.

Data Sources & Methodology

Product Data

We use OpenFoodFacts (openfoodfacts.org), a free, collaborative database of food products from around the world. Product data includes names, brands, images, and ingredient lists.

E-Additive Safety Information

Our additive database is curated from trusted sources including:

European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
UK Food Standards Agency (FSA)
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)
Peer-reviewed scientific research

Risk Classification

Additives are classified based on:

Scientific evidence of health effects
Regulatory bans or restrictions in countries worldwide
Links to hyperactivity, allergies, or other health concerns
Classification by cancer research agencies

Important Disclaimer

Honest Scan provides informational guidance only and is not medical advice.

The information provided by this app should not replace professional medical advice. If you have allergies, medical conditions, or dietary concerns, always consult with qualified healthcare professionals or registered dietitians.

While we strive for accuracy, product formulations can change, and databases may have incomplete or outdated information. Always read product labels carefully and use your own judgment.

Privacy & Data

Your privacy matters. For this Phase 1 MVP:

Your preferences are stored locally in your browser
We do not create user accounts or track personal information
Scan history is anonymous and not linked to individuals
We do not sell or share your data with third parties

Have questions or feedback? We're building Honest Scan to serve you better.