A French-developed application called Yuka is gaining significant traction in the United States, with 28 million users scanning product barcodes to assess their health impact. The app rates food, cosmetic, and toiletry items on a scale from green (good) to red (bad), providing detailed information about ingredients and additives.
Nathalie, a user in France, shared her experience of using Yuka to scrutinize biscuit ingredients, noting concerns about sugar, saturated fats, and potentially risky additives. She found that adhering to the app's recommendations often led to purchasing more expensive organic products. "Malo hates shopping with me now," she commented, referring to her 12-year-old son. "You spend ages scanning and he can never have what he wants."
Yuka, launched in 2015, has expanded to 12 countries and amassed 85 million users worldwide. While France has six million users and the UK has approximately five million, the US represents the largest user base. The app's popularity in the US includes endorsements from public figures, such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who previously served as the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and has called Yuka his favorite app.