Feature Highlight: The Yuka App (with a few caveats...)

Yuka is a barcode-scanning app that decodes food and cosmetic ingredients. It’s wildly popular right now, with over 68 million users across 12 countries. Naturally, a lot of people are curious: Is it worth using?

Short answer: I like it. A lot. But like anything, it has its limitations.

👉 How I’m Using It IRL

I’ve been scanning all kinds of products lately... at home, at Trader Joe’s, at Walgreens. The app gives each item a 0–100 score, with a traffic light color code:

• 🔴 Bad

• 🟠 Poor

• 🟢 Good

• 🟢 Excellent (yes, two greens)

• 
  

It breaks down ingredients by nutritional quality, additives, and whether it's organic. For skincare and cosmetics, it flags risks like endocrine disruptors or allergens.

Deodorants were my first eye-opener. Some that I assumed were healthy didn’t score well at all. Same with my shampoo and heat styling spray for hair. The good news? My Skintimate shaving cream got a great score! And when something scores low, Yuka gives you healthier alternatives. I actually discovered a new heat styling spray from a brand I already liked... just a small, thoughtful upgrade that felt good.

Yuka doesn’t rate supplements or protein powders (yet), so heads up if that’s what you’re looking to scan.

🛒 Why I Scanned Everything at Trader Joe’s

One of the places I really went wild with scanning was Trader Joe’s. (We're sidetracking for a second here.) Since their prices are consistent nationwide, including in New York City where my kids live, I thought it would be helpful to check out their prepared food options. My kids are in their 20s, living in the city, and often grabbing meals on the go. They’d sometimes buy a ready-made meal, but what were they basing their choices on?

Let’s be honest... probably the packaging or the picture, not the label.

So I scanned nearly every prepared food item at Trader Joe’s just to see which ones were a little cleaner or scored better. That way, I could say, "Hey, go for this one over that one." I shared the info casually, over the phone, not in a long-winded message. That approach was actually well received.

Some might call this helicopter parenting, but I call it supportive coaching. I’m a health coach. It’s what I do. And honestly, I think it’s starting to matter to them, too. My kids are out in the world making their own choices, and if we don’t teach our young adults how to read a label or think about ingredients, how will they ever learn?

For me, sprinkling this info in here and there made a difference.

❌ It’s Not Personalized (And That’s OK)

Yuka isn’t tailored to your specific skin type or product routine. It flags individual ingredients without factoring in how they interact or appear in small amounts. And yes, some of the food labels can feel a little "judgy" but for me, it’s more about being informed, not being perfect.

✅ Free vs. Paid Version

You can use Yuka for free and get all the core features, including scanning. I chose to pay the $10/year because:

• I want to search products by their name. I especially find this helpful when shopping online or on Amazon before I have the barcode in hand.

• I appreciated the option for custom alerts (gluten-free, palm oil, etc.).

• And I liked that the subscription helps keep the app independent and ad-free.

Using it offline is an option too, but not a big deal for me. Supporting a mission I believe in felt like the right move.

🌍 The Bigger Picture

Yuka isn’t just influencing what we buy. It’s also changing what companies make. As scanning apps become more popular, food companies are starting to reformulate their products to achieve better scores.

🔍 Final Takeaway: Use It, Don’t Obsess Over It

This isn’t about scanning everything and tossing out your favorite things. It’s not about fear. For me, Yuka is a way to make small, informed changes and feel better about what I’m choosing... especially when I discover a better product that actually works better, too.

So go ahead and scan that deodorant or breakfast bar. Let it spark a conversation, not a crisis.

And let me know if you find a surprising score — I love hearing what you uncover!