The Best Scan App for Non Toxic Products

In the quest for cleaner, safer products, you may have turned to popular product scanning apps like Yuka, Think Dirty, EWG's Healthy Living, and so many more. These apps promise to simplify shopping by assigning products a score or rating based on their ingredients and safety profiles. 

You’ve been using it for months, trusting its every recommendation. But then suddenly, in a Facebook group comment someone says: it’s not trustworthy. Or maybe you’re using two apps and they don’t seem to agree on the exact same product… WHAT?!?! 

If this is you, keep reading because there is some nuance to this explanation and while there’s no cause to sound the alarm, there are some things you should know about finding the best scan app for non toxic products. We will also recommend our two top apps if you really want to take this non toxic living seriously.

Are Scan Apps Helpful?

Most of us are not food scientists or cosmetic formulators, and so scan apps can be helpful in identifying ingredients and learning more about their safety. However, most apps rely on a rating, and relying solely on these ratings can be misleading. Here’s why these tools may not be as reliable as you think and how to use them more effectively.

The Problem with Ratings and Scores

Many scanning apps rely on algorithms to generate a single score or rating for a product. This approach oversimplifies the complex issue of ingredient safety and often leads users to assume that a high rating means the product is unquestionably safe. However, a product with a high score may contain ingredients that some people find questionable, but are deemed safe by the app’s algorithm. We’ve seen EWG rate products a “1” even though they contain an ingredient that they themselves have rated a “6”. Conversely, a product with a low score might be perfectly safe but penalized because they used the word fragrance, even though the label states the fragrance only comes from essential oils. Some apps cannot decipher the difference. You cannot simplify the safety of a product to a single score.

This reliance on scores can lead to false confidence in a product’s safety or unnecessary alarm about ingredients that may not actually pose a risk.

What are the Scan App’s Standards?

As you just learned, scan apps that provide a rating rely on an algorithm. This algorithm is created using one set of standards and may not capture everything you are concerned with. Remember, there is no universal definition of “clean” or non toxic. There are many factors to consider and no app is going to address them all (or even the ones that are important to you).

How do you define clean?

• Is it harmful to human health? And do you agree with that research?
• Is it harmful to the environment?
• Is it petroleum-derived?
• Does the manufacturing of it put workers at risk?
• Is it sustainably sourced?
• Is it completely synthetic-free?
• Is the packaging plastic-free?
• Is it vegan or cruelty-free?
• Is it animal-derived?
• Does the company align with your values?

You will not find an app that addresses all of these factors. And similarly, you may not personally care about every single one of these things. This is why in our How To Go Toxin-Free (without losing your sanity) article, we strongly advocate people to set their own standards. But don’t worry, this doesn’t mean you need to tackle this alone, and there are two apps we recommend you join on this journey.

Are Apps Paid Off for Favorable Ratings?

But before we recommend an app, we want to cover a common misconception that apps are "paid off" by companies to give favorable ratings to their products. While skepticism is understandable, this claim is largely misconstrued and not entirely true.

For instance, organizations like the Environmental Working Group (EWG) charge companies a fee to obtain the EWG-Verified label. However, this fee is not a bribe but a payment for the certification process, which involves significant time, money, and resources. As a non-profit, EWG uses this income to fund its research and advocacy efforts.

Here’s the reality:

• EWG has established a standard, and companies can pay to have their products evaluated against it. If they meet the criteria, they receive the label.
• Whether EWG’s standards are stringent enough is a valid question, but there is no evidence that EWG accepts under-the-table payments in exchange for favorable ratings. Is it possible? Of course, but again, without evidence, this is an unfair statement to make.

Speculating about app corruption without proof contributes to fear mongering and unnecessary stress. Instead, recognize these systems for what they are—imperfect tools with defined standards you may not agree with. Here at Crunchy & Co, we don’t agree with many of EWG’s ratings, but they are still a helpful source of information and we love reading their investigative reports. Let’s not cancel an organization for being imperfect without any evidence of wrongdoing. The entire human race is imperfect.

Better Scan Apps for Non Toxic Products

If you’re serious about shopping toxin-free, it’s important to move beyond scores and focus on the ingredients themselves. This is why we love these two apps Switch Natural and Clearya, which offer a more transparent and educative approach.

• Switch Natural: This app highlights ingredients of concern without assigning a score. It simply identifies problematic ingredients and provides resources so you can learn about their risks. This fosters ingredient education rather than blind reliance on an algorithm. It was also created by a fellow twin-mom, Andrea, and purchasing the app for a small fee helps support small business. In an ocean of fear mongering accounts, Andrea always gives a scientific-based and genuine perspective and we love her style! 
• Clearya: Similarly, Clearya focuses on identifying harmful ingredients and cross-referencing them with regulatory databases. It doesn’t provide a score but empowers users to make informed decisions. This app was created by a couple, Amit and Chen, after a battle with cancer.

Both apps prioritize ingredient awareness, helping consumers better understand what’s in their products instead of relying on potentially flawed ratings. Now, there are tens of thousands of ingredients in use today and these two apps may not catch everything, but they are a great step in making better choices, while learning more about what’s important to you.

The Key Takeaway

While scan apps can be useful starting points, they should never replace informed decision-making. Ratings and scores are inherently limited and often oversimplified. Instead, focus on learning about ingredients and what matters most to you.

Tools like Switch Natural and Clearya are excellent for identifying ingredients of concern and building your understanding of product safety. No app is perfect, but by using them as guides—not gospel—you can shop smarter and avoid falling for fear-based narratives.

In the end, the best way to shop toxin-free is to educate yourself. Knowledge is the most powerful tool you have when it comes to protecting your health and making informed choices.

If you’re new to this journey, we highly recommend reading How To Go Toxin-Free (without losing your sanity). You can also check out our toxin-free shopping guides.