HOW IT WORKS
Everything You Need to Know
📱 HOW DO I SCAN A PRODUCT?
Open NutraDetective and point your camera at any barcode. The app recognizes it instantly and shows results in 2 seconds.
Can't get the camera to work? Tap "Manual Entry" and type the barcode numbers.
📊 HOW DOES THE GRADING WORK?
We analyze four key factors:
- Nutritional Content (macros, vitamins, minerals, fiber)
- Ingredient Quality (whole foods vs. processed, additives, preservatives)
- Processing Level (minimally processed to ultra-processed)
- Additive Safety (ADHD-linked additives, artificial ingredients)
Products are scored A (excellent) through F (avoid).
⚠️ WHAT ARE ADHD ADDITIVES?
Artificial colors and preservatives linked to attention and behavioral issues in children:
- Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6
- Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3
- Sodium Benzoate, TBHQ, BHT, BHA
We flag every single one.
🔍 HOW DO YOU DETECT ALLERGENS?
We scan ingredient lists for all 100+ common allergens—from the major 8 (milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soy) to less common ones (sesame, mustard, celery, lupin, sulfites).
You can set your allergen preferences so we highlight only the ones that matter to your family.
🚨 WHERE DO RECALL ALERTS COME FROM?
We pull real-time data from:
- FDA Enforcement Reports
- USDA FSIS Recalls
- Food Safety News
If a product in your scan history gets recalled, we notify you immediately.
❓ WHAT IF A PRODUCT ISN'T IN YOUR DATABASE?
Our database covers millions of products, but if something's missing, tap "Report Missing Product" and we'll add it within 24-48 hours.
👤 DO I NEED AN ACCOUNT?
No! You can scan products without creating an account.
But creating a free account lets you:
- Save your scan history
- Set allergen preferences
- Get recall notifications
- Access your scans on multiple devices
💰 IS IT REALLY FREE?
Yes! Core features are completely free:
Free users get 5 scans per day.
Want more? Upgrade to Senior Detective Package for 25 scans per day and premium features.
✅ HOW ACCURATE IS YOUR DATA?
We aggregate data from:
- Open Food Facts (crowdsourced product database)
- USDA FoodData Central (government nutrition database)
- FDA databases (additives, recalls, safety)
- Peer-reviewed nutrition research
We continuously update and verify data to ensure accuracy.
🛒 CAN I USE IT IN THE STORE?
Absolutely! That's exactly what it's designed for. Scan products before you buy to make informed decisions on the spot.
Works with cellular data or WiFi. Most scans are instant even on slower connections.
🔲 WHAT ABOUT BARCODES THAT WON'T SCAN?
Some reasons barcodes might not scan:
- Damaged or scratched barcode
- Barcode too small or unclear
- Poor lighting
Solution: Tap "Manual Entry" and type in the numbers below the barcode.
READY TO TRY IT?
Download NutraDetective free on iOS & Android.
No credit card required. No complicated setup. Just truth.