Food label reading apps

Food label reading apps

  • Learning how to read and understand food labels can help you make healthier choices.
  • The following are food label reading apps suitable for Aotearoa New Zealand, reviewed by Healthify.
yellow unaunahi tile
Print this page

Learning how to read and understand food labels can help you make healthier choices. Not all processed foods are created equal. If you look at what is in packaged foods and understand the information on a Nutritional Information Panel (NIP) it can help you make healthier food choices for you and your whānau.

  • You can usually find the ingredient list on the back of packaged food. Ingredients contained in the product are listed in order from the largest to the smallest amount.
  • Sugar and fat are often listed in the ingredient list under different names. Common names for sugar added to foods are corn syrup, dextrose, fructose, glucose, sucrose, maltose, honey, invert sugar, golden syrup, maple syrup and treacle.
  • Common names for fat added to foods are butter, coconut cream, cream, hydrogenated vegetable fat, lard, margarine, oil, trans fats, triglycerides and vegetable oil. 
  • Reading food labels is also important if you need to avoid certain allergens. Labels must clearly show if a food contains major allergens, eg, shellfish, egg, fish, gluten, milk, peanuts, sesame seeds, soybeans, sulphites and tree nuts (almonds, cashews and walnuts).

Learn more about reading food labels. The following are food label reading apps suitable for Aotearoa New Zealand.

Before choosing an app, think about how it will benefit you and what you want it to be able to do.

  • An app will only be helpful if you use it, so it needs to be something you like using and find easy to use.
  • If you find the app difficult to use, or you don't like the imagery or look of it, or the language it uses, you may want to find another one that suits you better.
  • For more guidance on how to choose health apps, see how to choose a health app.
  • It's important to remember that apps don’t replace professional help or your healthcare provider’s advice.

App Features Clinical review
Coeliac Care Program
  • Label reading for coeliac disease and gluten intolerance.
  • Cost: See price.
  • Read more about Coeliac Care Program.
5 star review
Foodswitch

  • Barcode scanning.
  • Health star ratings – rates products from 0.5 to 5 stars (the higher the star rating, the healthier the food is).
  • Available in App Store and Google Play.
  • Cost: Free.
  • Read more about FoodSwitch.
4 star review
The Insides Guide – is it gluten free?

3.5 star review
The Insides Guide – is it dairy free?

5 star review

Disclaimer: The NZ Health App Library is a free consumer service to help you decide whether a health app would be suitable for you. Our review process is independent. We have no relationship with the app developers or companies and no responsibility for the service they provide. This means that if you have an issue with one of the apps we have reviewed, you will need to contact the app developer or company directly.

Factsheets – using health apps safely

How to choose a health app
Healthify He Puna Waiora, NZ

Credits: Healthify editorial team. Healthify is brought to you by Health Navigator Charitable Trust.