Frequently Asked Questions

AllergySnap™ is a mobile app that helps people with food allergies instantly determine if a product is safe to eat. Simply scan a barcode, QR code, or take a photo of the ingredients, and get a clear color-coded result in seconds.

No! AllergySnap is designed to work immediately without any account or sign-up. Just download, set your allergens, and start scanning. Your allergen profile is stored locally on your device for privacy.

AllergySnap offers unlimited free barcode and QR code scanning. AI photo analysis of ingredients is available with a monthly quota (10 free scans per month). Premium plans with unlimited AI scans are available.

SmartScan automatically tries three methods in order:

• Barcode scanning (10 seconds)
• QR code scanning (3 seconds)
• AI photo capture of ingredients

You don't need to switch between modes - the app automatically progresses through each method until it gets a result.

For products in our database (powered by OpenFoodFacts), accuracy is very high as we use manufacturer-provided ingredient data. For AI photo analysis using GPT-4 Vision, accuracy is excellent but we always recommend double-checking for severe allergies.

When uncertain, AllergySnap shows a gray "Unknown" result, prompting you to check manually rather than guessing.

No problem! SmartScan automatically switches to AI photo mode. Just point your camera at the ingredients list, and our AI will analyze it for your specific allergens. This works even for handwritten labels or products in other languages.

Yes! The AI photo analysis can read and understand ingredients in multiple languages. This is especially helpful when traveling or shopping at international grocery stores.

AllergySnap detects all FDA Big 9 allergens:

• Milk
• Eggs
• Fish
• Shellfish
• Tree nuts
• Peanuts
• Wheat
• Soybeans
• Sesame

Plus, you can add any custom allergen or ingredient you need to avoid.

Absolutely! Beyond the standard allergens, you can add any ingredient you need to avoid - whether it's a rare allergen, food sensitivity, or dietary restriction. The app will check for these custom items in every scan.

Yes! Many parents use AllergySnap to quickly check products for their children. You can set up the allergen profile for your child and even share scan results with caregivers, teachers, or family members via text or QR code.

This is our safety-first approach. If we can't find ingredient data for a product, we show "Unknown" (gray) rather than guessing it might be safe. We believe it's better to be cautious than to give false reassurance when dealing with food allergies.

AllergySnap uses simple color codes for instant understanding:

• Green (Safe): No allergens detected
• Orange (Warning): May contain allergens
• Red (Danger): Contains your allergens
• Gray (Unknown): No ingredient data available - check manually

Yes! You can share any scan result via:

• Text message
• QR code (great for showing in stores)
• Shareable link

This is perfect for communicating with caregivers, family members, or when someone else is shopping for you.

Barcode scanning requires an internet connection to check our database. However, previously scanned products are cached locally for quick access. AI photo analysis also requires internet for processing.

Your privacy is our priority:

• No account required - anonymous usage
• Allergen profiles stored only on your device
• No personal data collection
• Only camera permission requested
• No ads or data selling

AllergySnap only requests camera permission for scanning. That's it! We don't ask for contacts, location, or any other unnecessary permissions. Your privacy matters.