ZOE launches free app that decodes food labels with science

Is that "healthy" snack actually good for you? This AI-powered food analyzer aims to tell you in seconds.

Published on May 14, 2025 by Ash Read

The Drop: ZOE launched a free app that instantly analyzes foods with your smartphone camera, cutting through marketing hype to reveal their true health impact.

The Details: Science-backed food analysis in seconds

ZOE research found nearly half of Americans struggle to identify what’s truly healthy in grocery stores, while 76% feel bombarded by conflicting nutrition advice. Its new app aims to solve this problem with its Risk Scale for Processed Food.

The app itself is simple to use: snap a photo of any food and ZOE’s AI instantly categorizes it on a five-point scale from “Unprocessed” to “Highest Risk”, recognizing that unlike generic advice to avoid all processed foods, processing exists on a spectrum.

The app aims to help you discover what’s really inside your food.

The app helps identify which ultra-processed foods might actually be okay and which “health halo” products with buzzwords like “natural,” “low-fat,” or “high-protein” aren’t as beneficial as their packaging suggests.

The Risk Scale was developed by a team of nutrition scientists led by Professor Tim Spector, ZOE’s scientific co-founder, based on analysis of over one million everyday food products.

“People are crying out for clarity,” says Spector. “Our Risk Scale cuts through the noise, helping people see through empty health claims and confusing labeling.”