NHS launches food scanner app to target unhealthy snacks

The NHS food scanner app will now flag healthy food combating the rise of unhealthy snack consumption among children, the authorities said on Monday (10), after latest data highlighted how families purchased unhealthy food more during lockdowns.

The new feature on the NHS app, announced as a part of the Better Health campaign, will scan selected shopping items and suggest alternatives with less saturated fat, sugar or salt. Families using the NHS Food Scanner app will also be shown a “Good Choice” badge for items which could help improve their diet, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said.

Public Health Minister Maggie Throup said, “We know that families have felt a lot of pressure throughout the pandemic which has drastically changed habits and routines. The new year is a good time for making resolutions, not just for ourselves, but for our families. Finding ways to improve their health is one of the best resolutions any of us could make.

“By downloading the free NHS Food Scanner App, families can swap out foods from the weekly shop for healthier alternatives and avoid items high in salt, sugar and saturated fat,” Throup said.

The app’s “Good Choice” badge will help people to buy healthier food and drinks more that are in line with the government’s dietary recommendations for added sugar, saturated fat, and salt, reports said.

It follows the survey’s findings suggesting that parents have been giving more unhealthy snacks to their children since the start of the pandemic. A new survey jointly conducted by the department conducted with Netmums showed that nearly 58 per cent of parents give their children more sugary or fatty snacks than before the pandemic and 64 per cent of parents said they often worry about how healthy their children’s snacks really are.

Nearly 90 per cent of parents had said they would benefit from an App which would assist them in making healthier choices for their children.

The UK Government is regulating the promotion of unhealthy foods to children, dedicating around £100 million of funding to support children, adults and families achieve and maintain a healthier weight as part of their Obesity Strategy.