Scanning Food Barcodes

For packaged foods, scanning the barcode is the most accurate way to get nutritional information. Sunu's camera can automatically detect and read barcodes.

---

How to Scan a Barcode

Step 1: Open the camera view by tapping the Camera Button (📷) on the Home tab or by choosing "Take Photo or Scan" from the Meal Logger

Step 2: Simply point your camera at the barcode on the product's packaging. Hold it steady for a moment.

Step 3: A confirmation pop-up will appear on the screen, showing the product name retrieved from the Open Food Facts database

Step 4: Tap "Add Item" to add it to your current meal log

---

What Is Open Food Facts?

Open Food Facts is a collaborative, free, and open database of food products from around the world. It contains:

• Product names and brands
• Complete nutritional information
• Ingredient lists
• Allergen information
• Product images

When you scan a barcode, Sunu retrieves all this information automatically, saving you from manual entry.

---

What If a Product Isn't Found?

Occasionally, a barcode may not be in the database. If this happens:

1. The product name will show as "Unknown Product"
2. You can still add the item to your meal log
3. Manually edit the item's name and nutritional details by tapping on it

---

Tips for Successful Scanning

Hold Steady

Keep your phone stable while pointing at the barcode. Movement can make it harder to read.

Good Lighting

Ensure the barcode is well-lit. Shadows or glare can interfere with recognition.

Clean Barcodes

Wrinkled, damaged, or dirty barcodes may not scan properly. Try to find a cleaner area of the packaging.

Try Different Angles

If scanning isn't working, try tilting your phone slightly or moving closer/farther from the barcode.

---

🌍 Contributing to Open Food Facts

If you scan a product that's not in the database, you can contribute by adding it to Open Food Facts directly at openfoodfacts.org. This helps everyone!