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MNHQ

Read Mumsnetters’ feedback on the new Change4Life food scanner app

334 replies

JustineBMumsnet · 25/01/2018 13:44

This is the feedback thread for the MNers who have been testing the Change4Life food scanner app.

Here’s what PHE has to say: “Without realising it we’re all eating too much sugar, saturated fat and salt. The new and improved ‘Food Scanner’ app is here to help you and your family make healthier food and drink choices. Simply scan the barcode of your food and drink to reveal what’s inside.”

Testers, please answer the below questions.

  1. Do you think the Food Scanner app helped you to make healthier food and drink choices?
  2. What did you and your family enjoy about using the Food Scanner app?
  3. Do you think that you will continue to use the Food Scanner app?
  4. Can you tell us about a time - if any - you changed your purchase choice as a result of the app?
  5. We’d love to hear about any features you think could further improve the Food Scanner app?

All testers who give their feedback will be sent a £5 Amazon voucher.

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

Read Mumsnetters’ feedback on the new Change4Life food scanner app
OP posts:
PipLongStockings · 16/03/2018 11:46

Still waiting for mine

MrsFig · 16/03/2018 15:39

I'm still waiting for mine too

MNHQ
JustineBMumsnet · 16/03/2018 16:11

@MrsFig and @Piplongstockings - your vouchers will both be going out in a second batch next week - these will arrive via email so please keep an eye out for them.

OP posts:
redjoker · 20/03/2018 14:03

Still no voucher...

Cagliostro · 22/03/2018 08:31

Nothing here either, hopefully soon :)

PipLongStockings · 26/03/2018 09:15

@JustineBMumsnet, have I missed mine that was supposed to come last week?? Have checked emails regularly

busybuildingdens · 26/03/2018 09:35

I still haven’t received my voucher either, unless I have missed it...

BloodyWorried · 26/03/2018 13:33

Haven’t had mine either.

cluckyhen · 26/03/2018 14:58

Nothing here either

MrsFig · 26/03/2018 15:19

Same here, mine not arrived yet.

WineIsTheAnswer · 28/03/2018 17:29

Sorry for the very late reply, I responded to the survey and completely forgot about the thread.

  1. I used it to help DCs make better choices with foods. Only things I would swap had sweeteners in instead, which is something I avoid.
  1. DCs enjoyed scanning foods and comparing two items.
  1. We have continued to use the app and found it helpful
  1. I only used it on items we had already brought so didn't swap out but it's made me more conscious of the choices I make when buying.
  1. Ability to change the portion size and add foods together to find the total sugar content.
GingerKitCat · 28/03/2018 17:42

Me too Wine Blush

  1. Do you think the Food Scanner app helped you to make healthier food and drink choices? Yes, it was really helpful to equate how many sugar cubes/salt sachets were hiding in each product.
  2. What did you and your family enjoy about using the Food Scanner app? Scanning barcodes and getting instant results as if by magic. The graphics were very informative and easy to understand.
  3. Do you think that you will continue to use the Food Scanner app? Yes
  4. Can you tell us about a time - if any - you changed your purchase choice as a result of the app? It was sobering to see how much sugar went into certain 'healthy' biscuits. We've swapped for fruit and veg snacks.
  5. We’d love to hear about any features you think could further improve the Food Scanner app? Adding foods together to give a total sugar/fat.
busybuildingdens · 28/03/2018 18:33

So glad you posted Wine, as I hadn’t completed the survey! Hopefully that is why I haven’t received my voucher!

gigglingbiscuit · 28/03/2018 18:36
  1. A lot of it was common sense but there were a few surprises!
  2. It was super each to use and we didn’t find ANYTHING that didn’t scan.
  3. Quite possibly to demonstrate if something is health or unhealthy.
  4. Nutella! It was a great way to back up my view that it’s unhealthy just because it marketed as being healthy for having milk and nuts in it 🙄
  5. Perhaps better links to suitable healthy alternatives/recipes
FizzySmiles · 28/03/2018 18:52

I also havent had a voucher. Got an email today to say I haven't given my feedback. My post is on the first page x

Cagliostro · 28/03/2018 19:35

I too had an email saying I hadn’t given feedback. I answered both sets of questions upthread on 4th February. I’m sure I already did an online survey too? But have done the brief one emailed just now anyway.

NerrSnerr · 28/03/2018 19:41

I had an email as well. I'm sure I'd already done the survey but maybe I forgot. Done it today just in case.

Mel0Dram4 · 28/03/2018 20:58
  1. Do you think the Food Scanner app helped you to make healthier food and drink choices?
Not really, I don't really agree with all the principles.
  1. What did you and your family enjoy about using the Food Scanner app?
It was fun doing something together
  1. Do you think that you will continue to use the Food Scanner app?
Probably not tbh
  1. Can you tell us about a time - if any - you changed your purchase choice as a result of the app?
None, I trust my own knowledge and opinions
  1. We’d love to hear about any features you think could further improve the Food Scanner app?activities for family exercise ideas
HarrietSchulenberg · 28/03/2018 22:43
  1. Do you think the Food Scanner app helped you to make healthier food and drink choices? *To some extent, yes. It helped me to prove to my children that there is more sugar in their food than they think.*
  2. What did you and your family enjoy about using the Food Scanner app? *11YO loved it but teens weren't really intetested.*
  3. Do you think that you will continue to use the Food Scanner app? *Yes*
  4. Can you tell us about a time - if any - you changed your purchase choice as a result of the app? *Persuaded 11YO to choose a different drink.*
  5. We’d love to hear about any features you think could further improve the Food Scanner app? *Include information on ethical choices, eg foods containing palm oil.*
Dailymailaredicks · 29/03/2018 01:04

Love this app, my DS asks to scan things and actively looks at salt and sugar levels.the visual representation is especially good and helps DS to understand it.

FizzySmiles · 29/03/2018 07:45
  1. Do you think the Food Scanner app helped you to make healthier food and drink choices? Yes it made me more aware of what was in the food.
  1. What did you and your family enjoy about using the Food Scanner app? How clear it was too see. It wasnt confusing just numbers. The visual pictures made it understandable, even for my 4 year old.
  1. Do you think that you will continue to use the Food Scanner app? Yes
  1. Can you tell us about a time - if any - you changed your purchase choice as a result of the app? None
  1. We’d love to hear about any features you think could further improve the Food Scanner app? None.
shitwithsugaron · 29/03/2018 08:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

prakattack · 29/03/2018 11:24
  1. Do you think the Food Scanner app helped you to make healthier food and drink choices?
Not particularly actually. i think we're already quite knowledgeable about hidden sugars (youngest DS is diabetic so I'm already well used to studying food labels! I also found that because Change4Life are only concerned about sugar, the app rated some things as "healthy" and "a great choice" which i wouldn't agree were like diet pop.
  1. What did you and your family enjoy about using the Food Scanner app?
The kids loved zapping things in the supermarket but again, I wasn't convinced they were getting good messages from using it, so I stopped letting them use it as much.
  1. Do you think that you will continue to use the Food Scanner app?
No
  1. Can you tell us about a time - if any - you changed your purchase choice as a result of the app?
No never.
Helen2385 · 29/03/2018 11:48
  1. Do you think the Food Scanner app helped you to make healthier food and drink choices?
Definitely, we started scanning lots of things we already had in the house. I was quite shocked at the levels of sugars/salts/fats in some of them. It helped us look for alternatives when we went shopping.
  1. What did you and your family enjoy about using the Food Scanner app?
It was fun and easy to use and the kids could see very easily what was in their snacks. We also liked the link through to the website which gave plenty of healthy ideas.
  1. Do you think that you will continue to use the Food Scanner app?
Yes. It's helped us make better choices and swap certain products.
  1. Can you tell us about a time - if any - you changed your purchase choice as a result of the app?
Munch bunch yogurts, wow so much sugar! We don't buy those any more, and beans we've swapped to a reduced salt and sugar option the kids don't seem to mind at all. We've made quite a few
  1. We’d love to hear about any features you think could further improve the Food Scanner app?
Just getting as many items as possible on it, some bar codes we scanned weren't recognised. It was a bit disappointing for the kids when the info wasn't there.
MrsSquidney · 29/03/2018 12:05
  1. I don’t think so; although it was good to see the amount of sugar in each item
  2. I enjoyed the ease of scanning products
  3. i think once DS is old enough to understand I would use it with him to explain about sugar quantities
  4. I didn’t
  5. Nothing, but I’m sure I would if I use the app long term