Yuka is a popular health app that allows users to scan the barcodes of food items to quickly see a health ranking based on additives, sugar, saturated fat, and fiber. It also scans cosmetic products, highlighting any harmful substances like endocrine disruptors, carcinogens, allergens, and irritants. Yuka then recommends healthier options, helping consumers make more educated and mindful decisions.
Since its introduction in France in 2017, Yuka has revealed significant issues with major corporations regarding harmful ingredients that many customers are unaware they are consuming. For example, French supermarket chain Intermarché changed 900 recipes and removed 140 additives due to pressure from consumers and Yuka users.
Now, the company is expanding its mission by introducing a new feature that provides users with a direct way to contact brands using these problematic ingredients.
Launched today, the new “Call-out the Brand” button allows users to challenge companies directly. When a user scans a product that turns out to be marked with Yuka’s red label — which indicates health concerns — they will see an option to email the product’s manufacturer, pushing them to rethink the use of harmful additives. Yuka provides a default message but allows users to personalize it if they wish.
Additionally, users have the option to publish a post on X to advocate for change publicly. The company is working on adding support for other social media platforms, such as Instagram and others.
Emails and social media posts often lack impact when only a few people participate, but Yuka believes that this feature could encourage thousands, or even millions, of consumers to take a stand for healthier products. A study by the Food Industry Association (FMI) and NielsenIQ found that 72% of participants prioritize transparent product information and labeling when choosing which food brands to support.
This feature may be particularly beneficial for Americans, where food regulations are less strict than in Europe.
The new tool is only available to premium users in France and the U.S. The membership ranges from $10 to $50 per year and offers features like offline mode, unlimited history, and more. It’ll roll out to additional countries in the coming months.
Yuka is available to download on the App Store and Google Play Store. The app boasts 1 million paid users, 700,000 of which are in the U.S. Overall, it has over 60 million worldwide users.