(NewsNation) — A product-scanning mobile app is transforming how millions of Americans choose their grocery and cosmetics purchases.
Launched by three French designers, the Yuka app is gaining major traction in the United States. According to its website, Yuka has built a database of 3 million food products and 2 million cosmetic products.
The app, launched in France in 2017 and in the U.S. in 2020, has 60 million users worldwide.
How does the Yuka app work?
The app works by allowing users to scan product barcodes to find a rating — from zero to 100 — based on three factors: nutritional value, presence of potentially harmful additives, and whether it’s organic.
Results are displayed using a color-coded system — green, yellow, orange and red:
- A green dot indicates a product is risk-free
- A yellow dot indicates low risk
- An orange dot indicates moderate risk
- A red dot indicates a product is hazardous
If a hazardous ingredient is deemed present in a product, the score will automatically be red and lower than 25. If the highest-risk ingredient is one considered a moderate risk, the product’s score will be lower than 50.
For food items, Yuka’s rating system considers calories, sugar, salt, saturated fats, protein, fiber and the use of additives, taking into account independent studies.
Nutrition quality accounts for 60% of the score, while the presence of additives makes up 30% and the organic dimension 10%.
Cosmetic products are assessed by ingredient, with each component assigned a risk level based on the latest scientific data.
If a scanned item scores negatively, the app suggests alternatives with a higher score.
Companies improving products based on Yuka app
Yuka prides itself on being 100% independent and has said its evaluations and recommendations are not influenced by brands or manufacturers.
Still, the app’s impact is clear, and companies are paying attention.
In response to consumer feedback driven by Yuka, brands like Chobani have reformulated their products. In France, supermarket chain Intermarché removed 140 additives and improved more than 900 items based on the app’s influence.
Are ratings reliable, or is there room for improvement?
Critics have said Yuka’s approach isn’t perfect. Nutritionists have argued the methodology and databases used could be improved, a point the company has acknowledged.
Still, the app has gained popularity. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., leading advocate for the “Make America Healthy Again” movement, said he and his wife are regular users. Kennedy said he plans to encourage American developers to create similar apps, the Wall Street Journal reported.
As more Americans prioritize health, Yuka is influencing not only how consumers spend but also the products on store shelves.