If you thought that scanning your groceries to check their nutritional quality was already pretty darn practical, then you'll love this news: Yuka moves up a gear by now giving consumers the power to directly engage with brands! This is a new feature that may raise some eyebrows among manufacturers…
Remember: a few years ago, Yuka arrived on our smartphones with a simple but effective promise – scanning the barcodes of our foods to obtain a score out of 100 and understand their composition. A concept that quickly attracted more than 60 million users around the world, including 22 million in France alone. The application is not only limited to food, since it also analyzes cosmetic products by identifying endocrine disruptors, carcinogenic substances and even allergens.
But now, after having succeeded in making us aware of what we put on our plate, the Yuka team decided to go further. And not just a little! Their latest discovery will allow users to directly shake the coconut tree of major food groups.
So, when you scan a product that contains controversial additives (those that appear in red in the app), you can now directly send a message to the manufacturer to ask them to review their copy. A simple click and presto, you become a real actor who can make a difference!
The app even offers a pre-written message for those who aren't sure how to formulate their request. But the most inspired will of course be able to personalize their text. And to amplify the movement, Yuka also allows you to share your action on X (formerly Twitter), to put a little public spotlight on recalcitrant brands. Other social platforms like Instagram should soon be integrated.
So why did you launch into it, because it’s quite a head-on approach? Well, as Julie Chapon, co-founder of Yuka, explains, public authorities often take years before banning substances that are recognized as problematic. Between contradictory studies, lobbies and economic interests, while regulations evolve, we continue to ingest potentially harmful substances.
And don’t think that these additives are essential! As Olivier Andrault of UFC-Que Choisir points out, there are always healthier alternatives. The proof? Some brands have already started to modify their recipes under pressure from consumers. For example, nitrites in ham are gradually decreasing, and several cereal manufacturers have reduced the sugar level in their children's products.
The 55 additives in Yuka’s sights are not chosen at random: sweeteners disrupting the microbiota, emulsifiers risky for the cardiovascular system, dyes suspected of promoting hyperactivity in children… Each was selected on the basis of serious scientific studies.
This new feature is available to everyone (paid and free accounts) in France and the United States, where the application already has 700,000 paying subscribers. This approach is particularly relevant in the United States, where food regulations are often more permissive than in Europe. Moreover, a study by the Food Industry Association and NielsenIQ shows that 72% of consumers consider transparency on the composition of products as a major criterion in their purchasing choices.
The most fascinating thing about this story is to see how a simple scanning application is profoundly transforming our relationship with food. The example of Intermarché is particularly eloquent: the brand modified no less than 900 recipes and removed 140 additives following feedback from Yuka users. Proof that by giving power to consumers, we can create a true virtuous circle!
In short, ready to become consumer activists? The ball is in your court because with each scan, with each message sent, we take another step towards healthier eating for everyone.
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