FoodSwitch app helps healthier choices while doing the grocery shopping

Stephen Withers
Wednesday, 18 January 2012 14:51

Your IT - Mobility

Did you make a New Year's resolution to eat more healthily? The FoodSwitch app for the iPhone and iPad might help. (Don't panic - an Android version is on the way!)

Based on three years research by experts at The George Institute for Global Health and developed in partnership with Bupa, the FoodSwitch app for iPhone and iPad helps users make healthier eating choices.

"FoodSwitch's three step approach marries the latest technology with cutting edge research. Australians can now scan barcodes, see what's in a food, and switch to a healthier choice in an instant," Professor Bruce Neal, senior director at The George Institute, said.

Bupa's head of clinical advisory, Dr Stan Goldstein, said "FoodSwitch comes at a pivotal time in the food labelling debate, with the Federal Government still considering changes towards food labelling systems for Australia."

"While the food labelling debate is ongoing, this app uses the best available science to deliver immediate, easy-to-understand nutritional information so users can switch to healthier options now," he explained. FoodSwitch uses the 'traffic light' presentation for fat, saturated fat, sugar, salt and energy (kilojoules).

Some early users report the scanning capability is far from perfect, experiencing either failures to scan the barcode in the first place, or the app's inability to match barcodes with products, even from some big-name brands.

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