Editor's note: A question came in to On Your Table regarding food apps. Monango farmer and mom Val Wagner shared her response. We have posted it here and on our Ask a Farmer page. You can find a number of answers to questions regarding food on that page. And you can submit your own question, as well, to onyourtable@ndfb.org.
I use two apps on my phone, specifically EWG's Healthy Living and GoodGuide Scanner, to gain more knowledge about a product I am looking at in the store. It's quick and convenient to pull up the app, scan a barcode and have the health rating of the product at my fingertips within seconds. I have used it for everything from sunscreen to granola bars. My question is how reputable are these apps and do any farmers perhaps recommend an app like this? For a busy on-the-go mom it's a lifesaver to try and keep my family using the safest items and nutritious food. Or, is there something else I could be looking for while at stores instead of using an app?
Answered by Val Wagner,
Monango farmer and mom:
We live in an electronic age, and I must admit, I prefer my life to be easy whenever possible. Especially at the grocery store! Although I don’t use an app regularly for my cart (except for when I’m at the red-circle store, if you know what I mean!), I appreciate wanting to have all of your food information at your fingertips.
I reviewed the two apps that you mentioned specifically, and although some of the information was accurate, some of it was marketing. Doing a little research, I found that both apps charge companies to be listed. They determine what is/isn’t worthwhile purchasing, but in order to be listed you have to pay to have the privilege. I always question when you have to pay to be listed as “good.”
But that brings me to your next question – how do you know? And as a farmer and rancher, that’s the tough one. Maybe someday soon they’ll have an accurate app that doesn’t charge people an arm and a leg to find out what information on the label is truly accurate information, and what is just marketing. But maybe it’s also time for us to start demanding that our labels have less marketing?
For instance, I've seen labels that state water is GMO-free, when water has no DNA in it. And what about a gluten-free watermelon label? Or chicken labeled hormone-free, when chicken naturally contains hormones and it’s illegal for chicken to be sold with any added hormones (which you’ll find in small letters on every package – check it, it’s there)?
So why do the items in our grocery cart have to have so much junk on the label? Why can’t it be simple? Because labels sell. And because there’s so much competition, it’s almost like they’re shouting at you from the aisle. But rest assured, no matter what item you choose, the food raised and sold in the United States is some of the safest, most affordable food you can find – and you don’t have to pay for an app to tell you that.