FoodSwitch New Zealand app

This app allows you to search and compare nutrition information on packaged food products. 

It works by using your mobile phone camera to scan the barcode of a packaged food. It uses this information to calculate and display easy to understand nutrition information.

You can choose to view either a Health Star Rating (HSR) or traffic-light coloured icons.

The 'Health Star Rating' scores a food between 0.5 stars (least healthy) to 5 stars (healthiest). In the Traffic Light viewing mode, colour-coded icons show the amount of fat, saturated fat, salt and sugar. Green indicates a healthier choice with lower levels of these nutrients, amber has medium levels, with red indicating higher levels and is least healthy.

The app also provides suggestions for healthier alternatives to switch to.

When you use the App you can use 2 different functions:

1. Foodswitch is handy for any shopper, as it compares products based on energy, fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt content. 
2. SaltSwitch is useful if you are on a salt-restricted diet, eg, if you have high blood pressure or kidney disease. The app helps identify similar products with a healthier profile and less salt (sodium).

If the product you are searching for is not found in the app database, you are prompted to send through photos of the front package, nutritional panel and ingredients. For a more detailed description of the app, see Google Play(external link) or iTunes(external link) and, for a detailed review, see reviews below.

Clinical review

Reviewer: Lily Henderson, NZ Registered Dietitian
Date of review: May 2025
Platform: Apple
Version: 5.2
Review: The FoodSwitch app is designed to help you make healthier choices when selecting packaged food products. 
It works by scanning packaged food barcodes to display nutrition information by health star ratings or a traffic light system which makes it easy to interpret at a glance. 
The app suggests healthier alternatives and allows users to submit missing products. However, one of the biggest limitations is that it is no longer updated with New Zealand supermarket data which means it has limited application for people living in New Zealand. 
However, for the products in the database it does provide helpful information. The traffic light labelling is a visual way to display key nutrients and may also be easier for some people to interpret. 
Safety concerns: This app was originally developed jointly by the National Institute for Health Innovation (NIHI), New Zealand, and the George institute, Australia. However, it is now managed by the George Institute and a major limitation is that the app no longer has up-to-date New Zealand supermarket data. This means that the data will be incorrect if food companies have reformulated products or introduced new products.
Some supermarket foods (i.e. known brands) are available but the app data won’t be relevant to people who purchase some home branded products or less common products from cultural food stores. The product label is always the source of the most up-to-date and accurate nutrition information.
New Zealand relevance: Yes.
Concerns: Some well-known products/brands are in the database but as it is not being kept updated it is not reflective of the current packaged food supply.