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PRODX

Ingredient scanner

Read the ingredient list, not just the front of the pack

The front of a pack is a sales argument. The ingredient list is regulated: it names everything, in descending order of quantity. PRODX gives you all of it, then points at the entries that matter to you.

How PRODX reads an ingredient list

  1. 01

    The product is identified

    A barcode scan, or a search by name, pulls the product record from Open Food Facts.

  2. 02

    The list is shown in full

    The label text, not rewritten or summarised. The order is kept, because order tells you about proportions.

  3. 03

    Notable entries are flagged

    Allergens, animal-derived ingredients, and entries that conflict with a rule you have set — each with the reason it was flagged.

  4. 04

    The analysis feeds the verdict

    “Ingredients” is one of the four analysis categories alongside Nutrition, Dietary Fit and Allergens, and the “Why not 100%?” breakdown shows what counted.

What you see

  • The complete list, in order

    The first ingredient is the largest by weight. That order often says more than any claim on the front.

  • Named ingredients behind a category word

    Where the label specifies a particular flavouring, oil or emulsifier, that specificity is kept as written.

  • Conflicts with your rules

    Vegetarian, vegan, halal, gluten-free, lactose-free: an incompatible entry is named, not just counted.

  • Missing data shown as missing

    If no ingredient list has been recorded for a product, PRODX says so and sends you to the packaging rather than filling the gap.

Why an ingredient does not weigh the same for everyone

Gelatine is only a problem if you have made it one. Whey is only a problem for some people. That is why PRODX does not publish a universal list of “ingredients to avoid”: it reads the list against your rules and your context, and explains every flag. The raw label text stays in front of you, so you can judge the rest yourself.

A concrete example

You are buying sweets for a birthday and your household is vegetarian. You scan two bags: the first flags gelatine in the ingredients and names it; the second does not contain it and shows its full list. Decision made in seconds, without a magnifying glass or a search on your phone.

Limits worth knowing

Ingredient lists come from Open Food Facts: they can be incomplete, mistyped, or reflect an older recipe. PRODX flags entries that touch your rules, but it does not assess the health risk of an ingredient and it is not a substitute for medical or dietetic advice. For an allergy, the physical packaging remains the only up-to-date reference.

Common questions

Does PRODX read the ingredient list with the camera?
The scan reads the barcode, then the ingredient list comes from the product record. That is more reliable than text recognition on a creased or glossy pack.
What happens if the list is missing?
PRODX shows the information as unavailable and points you to the packaging. A gap is never read as the absence of an ingredient.
Are ingredients scored one by one?
No. PRODX flags entries that touch your allergies or dietary rules and says why; it does not give each ingredient a health grade.
Can I correct a wrong list?
Yes, by correcting it on Open Food Facts, which is an open database. The correction then flows through to PRODX.

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