How to Scan a Product with the WISEcode App

The WISEcode app turns your phone into a point-of-decision food advisor. With one scan, you can see exactly how a product measures against the WISEcode Standard — its processing level, its score, its Red Flag ingredients, and how it compares to alternatives on the same shelf. This guide walks you through your first scan and what to do when something doesn't go as expected.

Before you scan

1. Install and open the WISEcode app from the App Store or Google Play.
2. Grant camera permission when prompted. The scanner needs the camera to read barcodes; no photos or video are stored.
3. (Optional) Sign in or create a profile. A profile is not required to scan, but signing in lets you save scan history, build favorite lists, and personalize results to your dietary preferences.

Scanning a product

1. Tap the Scan button on the home screen (the camera icon at the bottom center).
2. Hold your phone 4–8 inches away from the product so the entire barcode is inside the on-screen frame.
3. Keep your hand steady. The app will auto-detect the barcode and vibrate briefly when it reads successfully — there is no shutter button to press.
4. The score card appears within a second or two.

Reading the score card

Every successful scan returns a card with four key elements:

• The product name and brand at the top, with the on-pack image when available.
• The WISEcode score (0 to 15+) and its corresponding tier — Minimal, Light, Moderate, Ultra, or Super-Ultra. The color band on the card matches the tier.
• Red Flag callouts, if any are present. These are the specific ingredients or attributes that pushed the product into a higher tier (synthetic colorants, nitrates, partially hydrogenated oils, added-sugar overload, etc.).
• "Better Choices" suggestions — up to three alternative products in the same category with lower scores, when alternatives exist in our database.

For a deeper explanation of what each score and tier means, see Reading Your Score: What the Colors and Numbers Mean.

When a product isn't found

If the app returns "Product not found," it means the barcode was read correctly but the SKU isn't yet in the WISEcode database. You have two options:

1. Tap "Submit this product" on the not-found screen. Take a clear photo of the front of pack and the ingredients/nutrition panel. Submitted products are typically scored within a few business days, and you'll get a notification when yours is ready.
2. Search by name instead. Tap the search icon at the top of the home screen and type the product name. Many products are in the database under slightly different SKUs (different region, package size, or rebrand) and will surface this way.

Troubleshooting

• The scanner won't focus. Make sure the lighting is good and the barcode is flat — bent or wrinkled packages can confuse autofocus. Tap the screen to force a manual focus.
• The barcode is damaged or missing. Use the search-by-name option, or tap "Enter manually" to type the UPC/EAN number from the package.
• The app shows the wrong product. Tap "Report a mismatch" on the score card. Our team will reconcile the SKU within a few business days.
• Camera permission was denied. Open your phone's Settings → WISEcode → Permissions and re-enable camera access.

Tips for fast, confident scanning in the aisle

• Scan before you compare. Pull two or three candidates off the shelf, scan each one, and let the score card decide.
• Save items as you go. Tap the heart icon on a score card to add a product to your "Favorites" list — useful for staples you buy every week.
• Scan offline. If you've used the app before, recent product data is cached locally; you can still get scores for many items even with poor in-store reception.

Having trouble with a scan?

Submit a request and our support team will help you out.