How Foodoogle reads a food label

A packaged food label contains three separate stories: the ingredient list, the nutrition panel, and the front-of-pack claims. Foodoogle reads all three together because each one alone can mislead. A product can be low in sugar and still be mostly refined starch; a product can be high in protein and still carry an ingredient list full of emulsifiers and artificial colours. The score only makes sense when the three stories agree.

Ingredients, decoded

Ingredients are listed by weight, so the order already tells you a lot: if sugar, glucose syrup or palm oil appear in the first three positions, they are the main event, not a trace. Foodoogle parses the list in order, expands grouped ingredients such as "natural flavours" or "spices", and separates whole foods from ingredients that exist only to improve texture, colour or shelf life.

Additives and what they do

Additives are grouped by function. Preservatives such as sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate slow spoilage. Emulsifiers such as soy lecithin and mono- and diglycerides keep oil and water from separating. Colourants make food look fresher than it is, and flavour enhancers such as monosodium glutamate make bland food taste fuller. None of these is automatically dangerous, but a long additive list is usually a sign of a heavily processed product, and a few additives deserve attention for people with specific sensitivities. Foodoogle explains each one in plain language rather than labelling it "bad".

The health score

The score weighs nutrients to favour (fibre, protein, vitamins and minerals) against nutrients to limit (added sugar, saturated fat, sodium, refined starch), then adjusts for how processed the product is and how long the additive list runs. Allergens you have told Foodoogle about are surfaced separately, so a good score never hides an ingredient you cannot eat.

Better alternatives

A score on its own does not help you shop. After every scan, Foodoogle compares the product with others in the same category and shows two or three options with a cleaner ingredient list, less added sugar or more fibre. The goal is simple: one scan, one clear answer, and a better choice in your cart.