Methodology

The label checker uses an explainable heuristic to group results into broad categories such as “Few flags”, “Worth a closer look” and “More to unpack”. It is not a medical-risk score and does not determine whether a food is safe for an individual person.

Stronger signals

Nutrition-panel values such as high sugar, salt or saturated fat, and ingredients such as partially hydrogenated oils, receive more weight.

Context flags

Added sugars, refined carbohydrates and some additives can be useful to notice, especially in foods eaten frequently.

Debated online

Seed oils, sweeteners and emulsifiers may be surfaced because people actively search for them. Their presence alone receives less weight and is not treated as proof of harm.

How investigations work

We start with a specific claim and try to find the strongest traceable source behind it. Company disclosures are labelled as company disclosures. Regulator records and original research are preferred over reposts and screenshots. When the evidence cannot establish something, we say so rather than filling the gap with a guess.

Corrections

Material factual errors should be corrected, and a change that alters an investigation’s meaning or verdict should be disclosed. Challenge an investigation →

Data limitations

Barcode data can be incomplete, outdated or user-contributed. A clear photograph of the current package or pasted ingredient list can sometimes be more useful.