Have you ever stopped at the supermarket to look at your phone and scan the barcode on a product to see if it's healthy? If the answer is yes, you surely know or have heard about Yuka, MyRealFood or ElCocoToday, healthy shopping is no longer just a matter of reading labels: these apps have revolutionized the way we choose what goes into our shopping cart. Let's take a look at the Comparative analysis of Yuka MyRealFood and ElCoco: which one helps you shop healthier?
But which of these apps actually helps you make better decisions? All three promise to analyze the nutritional quality of what you buy, but their methods differ significantly, and their ratings don't always match. In this article, I explain in detail how each one works, where they fall short, what experts think about them, and what you should look for so you don't get caught up in simplistic ratings. This way, you'll know which one best suits you and your needs.
Why are food analysis apps so popular?
Concern about food and health is increasing in society. Veganism, “realfooding,” healthy eating… are rising trends that have made a deep impact thanks to social media and the accessibility of information via mobile devices.
The problem appears when one is faced with Confusing nutrition labels, unpronounceable ingredients, and contradictory advertising messagesThe solution came with Mobile applications that allow you to know, quickly and easily, whether a product is healthy or notSimply scan the barcode and follow the assessment.
Thus, Yuka, MyRealFood and ElCoco They have managed to make their way into the routines of thousands of users in Spain and other European countries. But their analysis system isn't identical, nor are their results.
How do the most popular apps work?
Before you jump into comparing, it is important to understand How each app decides whether a food is recommended or notAlthough they all use similar barcode scanning technologies, their algorithms and sources vary.
- Yuka It was launched in France and stands out for analyzing both food and cosmetics. Its ratings combine the Nutri-Score system, the presence of additives, and, to a lesser extent, whether the product is organic or "bio."
- MyRealFood It is closely linked to the "realfooding" movement and classifies foods according to their processing: real food, well-processed, or ultra-processed, based on the NOVA system, although with its own adaptation.
- ElCoco It was born in Spain to help interpret labels and bases its analysis, above all, on Nutri-Score and the NOVA index, adding as a reference the WHO categories and the warning labels of the Chilean system.
There are other apps, such as Open Food Facts, MyHealth Watcher, and Food Score Calculator, but the three most popular among searches and downloads in Spain are the previous ones. Below, we analyze them in depth.
Yuka: algorithm, advantages and criticisms
This application, recognizable by its carrot logo, was born in France and is very popular both there and in Spain, with more than 10 million users and a database that exceeds seven million in food alone. With Yuka you can scan both food and cosmetic products, obtaining a score from 0 to 100 accompanied by a rating such as "bad," "mediocre," "good," or "excellent." If the product is unhealthy, it offers you better alternatives.
Yuka's algorithm is divided into three large blocks:
- 60% of the assessmentNutri-Score. Evaluates the overall nutritional quality of food by color and letter, from A (green, excellent) to E (red, very poor quality).
- 30% of the assessmentAdditives. It penalizes the presence of additives based on the risk level assigned by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the French agency ANSES, and independent studies.
- 10% of the assessmentOrganic product. Positively evaluate if the food carries the European "organic" label.
Some of its extra features include the proposal of healthier alternatives and the possibility of also analyzing cosmetics.
Advantages of Yuka:
- Simple and numerical valuation, very easy to understand for any user.
- international coverage and very extensive database.
- Additive analysis more comprehensive than other apps in the sector.
- Proposal of alternatives healthy
Frequent criticisms and limitations:
- Too much emphasis on additivesAccording to several nutritionists, it penalizes the presence of additives without differentiating between their function and the actual risk to the consumer. This can foster a certain "chemophobia."
- The "Bio" Product seal does not imply better nutritional quality.An organic product is not necessarily healthier, and EFSA itself does not consider it a relevant criterion.
- Lack of transparency in the algorithmIt is unclear how the scientific evidence regarding additives is weighed.
- The Nutri-Score rating is not displayed directly., which can be confusing when comparing similar products.
- The assessment may be too simplistic and their recommendations, not always correct.
In short, Yuka is useful for those looking for a clear and quick assessment, although its algorithm can lead to errors in the interpretation of the results.
MyRealFood: Rating, Philosophy, and Warnings
Driven by Carlos Ríos, creator of the "Realfooding" movement, MyRealFood is especially focused on the degree of processing of the productsThe main idea is Prioritize the consumption of "real food" (fresh foods), accept "good processed foods" and avoid ultra-processed foods., with a very practical and visual approach.
El classification system is its own (Real Food Index), but takes the NOVA system as a reference Created at the University of São Paulo, which groups foods according to their degree of processing:
- Real food: fresh, minimally processed foods.
- Good processing: products that, although they have some processing, do not include unhealthy ingredients or controversial additives.
- Ultra-processed: foods with high sugar, salt, unhealthy fats and additives considered not recommended.
La app informs about additives, but not like Yuka. It shows whether they are considered safe or "controversial" and warns if the food is high in certain components (sugars, calories, fats, etc.), following criteria similar to those on the Chilean front-of-package warning label.
MyRealFood's strengths:
- Commitment to food education and the "realfooder" community, promoting a healthy lifestyle beyond simple scanning.
- Provides clear warnings about “high in…” to facilitate decision-making.
- Does not give an overall numerical grade, which forces the user to interpret more information and encourages autonomy.
- Avoid penalizing additives that scientific evidence considers safe.
Recurring weaknesses and criticisms:
- Smaller database than Yuka and fewer scannable products.
- Somewhat simplistic classificationThe "good/bad" system may be insufficient for ambiguous or complex products.
- The adaptation of the NOVA system introduces subjectivity and is not always fully aligned with published scientific evidence.
- The use of "controversial" additives can create a false alarm and does not fully clarify the scientific basis for warning labels.
In short, MyRealFood is perfect if you want adopt "realfooding" as a philosophy of life and you are looking for information that is friendly and adapted to the Spanish market.
ElCoco: transparency and multidimensional analysis
ElCoco (The Conscious Consumer) emerged in Spain with the purpose of make product labels more understandable and offer the most objective and transparent analysis possible. Its database is more limited (more than 250.000 downloads), but it presents itself as the most "scientific" and least subjective option.
How does ElCoco rate? La app assigns a score from 0 to 10 each product based on three criteria:
- WHO categories. Consider the World Health Organization's 17 food categories for 2015.
- NOVA IndexDegree of food processing, from 1 (unprocessed) to 4 (ultra-processed).
- Chilean warning system. Points are deducted based on the presence of excess sugar, salt, energy density, or fat.
The algorithm is transparent, showing how each criterion is weighted and where the data comes from. Furthermore, presents information on additives, differentiating their technological and cosmetic functions, but it assumes that every additive authorized by EFSA is safe (although it may comment on its actual usefulness in the product formulation).
Advantages of ElCoco:
- Maximum transparency. Every criterion is explained and its sources are public.
- Allows you to compare similar products and better understand the differences that are sometimes not clear in other apps.
- Avoid scaremongering about additives and clarifies the function of each one.
- Combined and multidimensional score, which gives a more complete view.
Weaknesses and areas for improvement:
- Less extensive database than Yuka or MyRealFood, although it is constantly being updated.
- It does not give alternatives or proposals as fast as Yuka.
- The additive function includes a "personal opinion" which can introduce subjectivity.
- Not always ideal for users without prior knowledge, since their analyses require more attention and reading.
ElCoco is ideal for those who They seek scientific rigor and total transparency when judging a food and are not afraid to delve into the details of the assessment.
Where do they coincide and how do they differ?
Although Yuka, MyRealFood and ElCoco share some common criteria such as the use of Nutri-Score, the NOVA index or the assessment of additives, the truth is that the way they apply these criteria and the weight they give to each factor varies greatly. It's important to keep in mind:
- Nutri score It appears in all except MyRealFood, although in Yuka and ElCoco it is combined with other criteria and is not always visible to the user.
- NOVA Index It is in all three, but MyRealFood uses an adapted version that is more focused on the fight against ultra-processed foods.
- Titration of additives This is the most controversial point: Yuka penalizes their presence without nuances, MyRealFood only marks the controversial ones as problematic, and ElCoco evaluates them based on their usefulness, clarifying that they are all safe at the permitted levels.
- Organic or ecological products They only add points in Yuka and, to a lesser extent, in other apps, although all experts agree that this does not automatically imply higher nutritional quality.
- Transparency and adaptation to science This is ElCoco’s strong point, while Yuka and MyRealFood introduce more subjective elements into their algorithms.
On the other hand, all apps require the collaboration of users to maintain and expand its database, as many products vary in their ingredients or formulas over time.
Are the results provided by these apps reliable?
The reliability of the results depends on the use given to themExperts agree on several points:
- Rapid and absolute assessments oversimplify the complexity of nutritionNot everything "organic" is good, not every additive is bad, and not all ultra-processed foods should always be avoided (for example, canned fish or quality whole-grain bread).
- Algorithms can make mistakes, especially if the database is not up to date or if the product information is incomplete or incorrect.
- It is recommended to use these tools to compare products within the same category., not to judge food in general.
- No app replaces the personalized advice of a dietitian-nutritionist. or a healthcare professional.
- It is important to review the permissions and privacy policy of each application before entering personal health data.
Some experts, such as researcher José Luis Peñalvo or technologists Laura Saavedra, Gemma del Caño and Beatriz Robles, insist that The Nutri-Score or the NOVA have limitations and they can classify products as different as a healthy preserve and a calorie-free sugary drink in the same way. Therefore, interpretation should always be careful and not based solely on the overall score.
What do app creators and developers think?
The applications themselves maintain certain debates about the validity of their algorithmsThe following points stand out:
- Yuka defends that its analysis of additives is essential to protect consumer health, although it recognizes that "organic" labeling does not always mean healthier.
- ElCoco He believes that the obsession with additives can be misleading and that the industry exploits legal loopholes to present products that are "low in something" and that are not always healthy.
- MyRealFood warns that focusing only on additives can lead to buying products with a lot of sugar or fat, without preservatives, which are not necessarily better.
In public debates, ElCoco advocates transparency and objectivity, while Yuka and MyRealFood defend social utility of its proposal to make purchasing easier for those without knowledge of nutrition.
Is your data safe when using these apps?
It is important to remember that some applications collect personal data about preferences, allergies, and health habits. Cybersecurity experts recommend:
- Check the Privacy Policy before installing and providing sensitive information.
- Not using real data (full name, primary email account) if not required.
- Keep your mobile phone updated and apply security measures to prevent leaks.
- Remember that health information is more sensitive than the economic or fiscal one.
The biggest risk isn't using the app, but rather the potential for an attack to leak data into the wrong hands. Be careful what you share!
Tips to get the most out of these apps
For Yuka, MyRealFood and ElCoco really help improve your diet, consider these tips:
- Use them as a guide, not as an absolute judgment.
- Compare products in the same category to choose the best option available, but avoid simplistic conclusions.
- Check the ingredients and read the labels beyond punctuation.
- Remember that a balanced diet is varied, not based on eliminating foods through the app.
- Supplement the information with reliable sources or consult a professional. when you have doubts.
In the end, Common sense is still the best ally to make more informed and conscious purchases.
