Guides

Understand your food

Straight-talking, sourced guides to the questions that come up when you turn a packet over. No scare tactics, no jargon — just what the label means and what the evidence actually says, with links to the NHS, EFSA, the Food Standards Agency and the British Heart Foundation.

Additives Are food additives safe? A plain-English guide to E-numbers What E-numbers actually mean, how additives are tested and approved, and which ones are worth a second look. 6 min read Labels How to read a UK food label Traffic lights, reference intakes, the ingredients list and the 14 allergens — decoded in a couple of minutes. 7 min read Nutrition What are ultra-processed foods? What "UPF" really means, the NOVA groups, and a calm look at what the evidence does and doesn't show. 6 min read

Why we write these. Scrannr turns a barcode into a clear read on your food, and these guides explain the ideas behind it in plain English. Every health claim is cited to a recognised source, and none of it is a substitute for advice from a qualified professional. Curious how the app scores things? See how the health score works.

Understand your food

Put it into practice.