How One App Is Revolutionizing American Eating Habits

Marissa Gradei once considered Cheez-Its a healthier snack option compared to other savory treats like potato chips.

Her perspective shifted three months ago when she began using a smartphone app called Yuka. The app encourages users to scan barcodes of food and personal care products both in stores and at home, then provides a health score out of 100 indicating how beneficial the item might be for personal health and the environment.

Gradei’s favorite snack received a low score of two out of 100, marking it as unhealthy according to the app’s criteria. Since then, she has stopped buying it.

Since its U.S. launch in 2022, the Yuka app has been downloaded by over 20 million users, with downloads more than doubling since January 2024. Health officials have described the app as an invaluable tool for consumers.

The app’s straightforward approach allows shoppers to scan any product in a grocery store and receive an immediate recommendation to either 'go' or 'no-go' based on the item's health score.

However, questions remain about the accuracy of Yuka’s health ratings and whether consumers should depend on such apps to guide their dietary decisions. To gain clarity, insights were sought from four nutrition experts.