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QR Codes for nutrition information
Today, virtually all food products in (US) grocery stores have UPC codes. You can use apps like MyFitnessPal and others to lookup the UPC code and get information (some of it from USDA, others crowd sourced).
This seems like the perfect place for a QR code on packaging, that contains all the nutrition information, ingredients, dietary/allergen compliance status (gluten, vegan, etc).
Where would a push for this kind of thing happen - from the food producers, or from a vendor or reseller of some kind? It makes tons of sense, but it seems to be a chicken/egg scenario.
- miljo 13y agoThe nutrition labels are required by the FDA, I think. There's a good breakdown on their site. http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/LabelingNutrition/ucm274593.htm http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/Labelin... I think any requirement for this would have to come from them. Of course there's probably a grocery industry group that would also have the power to get something like this set up if it were somehow desired or otherwise profitable.
- ScottWhigham 13y agoI think the argument would come down to the idea that the QR code could not replace the other nutritional information - if so, then that would mean only people w/ a QR reader would be able to view said info - and, since it can't replace, then what's the point?
- ScottWhigham 13y agoOn a side note, I recently learned about the app Fooducate. You scan the UPC and it grades the food based on various info. It found every one of my GF foods which surprised me. It's well done and has good info IMO. And it's free. Android/iOS compatible http://www.fooducate.com/ http://www.fooducate.com/
- count 13y agoThe same point as QR codes everywhere else - integration with automated applications. It'd be a convenience thing, much like the barcode, only significantly more information-dense.