MeluScan
Food & Drink
Only for iPhone
Free · Designed for iPhone. Not verified for macOS.
iPhone
Food scores that don't scare you. Melu rates every product for your child's specific age — accurate, science-based, no fear-mongering. Scan any barcode in seconds.
Melu, the food scanner built for parents
- Scan any packaged food and see instantly whether it's right for your child.
- Melu scores products from 0 to 100 based on your child's age, because what's fine for a 10-year-old might be too much sugar or sodium for a toddler.
How it works
- Point your phone at a barcode. In seconds, Melu tells you:
- A clear 0–100 score and verdict
- Every artificial dye, preservative, and sweetener in the ingredients
- How much sugar and sodium it has relative to your child's daily limit
- Which ingredients are worth worrying about and which aren't
- Practical guidance on serving size and how often to offer it
Built on pediatric nutrition science, not adult formulas
Most food-rating apps use a single formula for everyone. Melu adjusts for age. Sugar limits for a 2-year-old are different from a 10-year-old. Sodium thresholds shift. Ingredient sensitivities change. Melu reflects what actually matters for your specific child.
What Melu flags
- Artificial dyes (Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Red 3, and the rest)
- Preservatives like BHA, BHT, TBHQ, and sodium nitrite
- Added sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners
- Ultra-processed markers and industrial seed oils
Set your family's preferences
Choose how strictly Melu evaluates additives, sugar, and processing level. Each child can have their own preferences, so your toddler gets stricter scoring while your older kid gets age-appropriate flexibility.
Made for the grocery aisle
No endless scrolling, no PhD in nutrition required. Melu gives you a verdict in seconds so you can make the call and move on. When a product isn't in our database, take a photo of the label and we'll score it for you, and add it for the next parent who scans it.
Share with anyone
Found something great (or not so great)? Share a branded score card to your family group chat with one tap.
Multiple kids, different ages
Add up to three children with their own ages and preference profiles. Melu scores each product for every child, so you know what works for the whole family.
Privacy first
We don't sell your data. We don't share it with advertisers. You can use Melu without creating an account, and if you do sign in, you can delete your account and all your data any time.
Not a substitute for medical advice
Melu is a tool to help you read labels faster. It's not a replacement for guidance from your pediatrician.
Enhanced per kid scoring
The developer, Overstory Labs LLC, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .
Data Linked to You
The following data may be collected and linked to your identity:
- Contact Info
- Identifiers
- Usage Data
Accessibility
The developer has not yet indicated which accessibility features this app supports. Learn More
Information
- Seller
- Overstory Labs LLC
- Size
- 24.4 MB
- Category
- Food & Drink
- Compatibility
Requires iOS 15.1 or later.
- iPhone
Requires iOS 15.1 or later. - iPod touch
Requires iOS 15.1 or later. - Mac
Requires macOS 12.0 or later and a Mac with Apple M1 chip or later. - Apple Vision
Requires visionOS 1.0 or later.
- iPhone
- Languages
- English
- Age Rating
13+
- 13+
- Copyright
- © N/A