Food barcode scanner

An app feature that reads the barcode on packaged food or drink and shows you information about the product. Boone goes further than most by showing how processed the product is and 29 vitamins and minerals, not just what is printed on the label.

Open the scanner in the Boone app and point your camera at the barcode. The result appears in a few seconds.

A NOVA processing rating, calories and macros (protein, carbohydrate and fat), 29 vitamins and minerals, and a heads-up if the ingredients include anything on your avoid list.

Yes. If you are eating it now, add it to your day and it counts towards your totals. If you are just checking it in the shop, you do not need to log it.

Yes. Adjust the amount before you add it to your day, so your totals reflect what you actually ate rather than the whole pack.

Boone assigns each product a NOVA group based on its ingredient list, using an approach built on our own published research with the University of East Anglia. Group 1 is unprocessed or minimally processed, and group 4 is ultra-processed.

Usually because its ingredients include things you would not use when cooking at home, such as emulsifiers, modified starches, flavourings or sweeteners. These are typical of industrially made food, which NOVA places in group 4.

Because their ingredients differ. A loaf made from flour, water, yeast and salt is processed. A sliced loaf that also contains emulsifiers and preservatives is ultra-processed, even though the two can look almost identical on the shelf.

Yes. Front-of-pack claims describe things like protein or sugar content, not how a product is made. A protein bar or a "natural" snack can still be ultra-processed, which is why Boone looks at the ingredient list rather than the claims.

From the product's own label, supplemented with established food composition data. Where an ingredient list is incomplete, Boone shows the processing rating as an estimate.

UK food labels only have to show a few nutrients, such as fat, sugar and salt. Boone uses food composition data to estimate the vitamins and minerals as well, so you can see what a product contributes beyond the basics.

Yes. Add the ingredients you would rather not eat, and Boone flags where they appear, or might appear, in the ingredient list of anything you scan. It works for lifestyle choices, things you are cutting down on, and additives common in ultra-processed food.

No. Ingredient information is not always complete or up to date, and manufacturers can change recipes. Always read the label, especially if you have an allergy. Boone is not a medical device and does not replace allergen advice.

Any product with a barcode, including supermarket own-brand food and drink. If it is not already in our database, we will match it for you.

Yes. Our free food database shows calories, sugar, salt and processing level for thousands of supermarket products, restaurant items and everyday foods. The app adds scanning on the go and tracks everything you eat.

Yes. Barcode scanning is included on the free plan, and scans are unlimited.

No. We never sell or share your personal data with advertisers or other commercial third parties, and that includes what you scan. You can ask for a copy of your data or have it deleted at any time.

No. Boone is not a medical device and does not diagnose or treat anything. If you have a health condition or ongoing symptoms, speak to your GP or a qualified healthcare professional.