How Can We Assist You?

To enable scanning functionality, please verify the following settings on your device:

1. Confirm that you've granted camera access permissions to the Fudu app. If camera access is disabled, you'll need to update this in your device settings:
   • For iOS devices: Navigate to "Settings" → tap "Fudu" → toggle "Camera" to the ON position.
2. Ensure that the app has permission to access cellular data when not connected to Wi-Fi:
   • For iOS devices: Go to "Settings" → select "Fudu" → enable "Cellular Data" or "Mobile Data".
3. Verify that your device has an active internet connection. Note that some retail locations may have limited cellular reception or may not provide public Wi-Fi access.

At present, Fudu is exclusively available for download on the App Store in the United States market.

We are actively working to expand our app's availability to additional countries and regions in the near future. Stay tuned for announcements about international rollouts.

Currently, an active internet connection (either Wi-Fi or mobile data such as 4G/5G) is required for the scanning feature to function properly. This is because Fudu utilizes cloud-based artificial intelligence (AI) technology to analyze product information in real-time and provide you with instant nutritional insights and recommendations.

Occasionally, the product information shown in Fudu may not precisely match the item you've scanned. This discrepancy typically occurs due to barcode reuse by manufacturers or recent packaging redesigns. Some companies recycle the same barcode across multiple product variations, reformulations, or regional versions. Additionally, manufacturers may update ingredient lists, nutritional values, or packaging without changing the barcode itself, creating temporary mismatches between physical labels and database entries.

Fudu continuously updates its product database using barcode data combined with community contributions from users like you. If you notice any inaccuracies or outdated information, you can report it directly within the app or help improve our database by submitting current product details and photos. Your contributions ensure that Fudu remains accurate and reliable for everyone.

If the scanning feature unexpectedly stops functioning, the issue is most commonly related to camera permission settings that may have been inadvertently disabled. Please ensure that Fudu has full camera access enabled in your device's privacy settings.

Additionally, confirm that you have an active internet connection—either through Wi-Fi or mobile cellular data (4G/5G).

Verify that you're running the most recent version of the Fudu app by checking for updates in the App Store.

If the problem persists after checking the above, try these additional troubleshooting steps: Force-close the app completely and reopen it, or restart your mobile device. If scanning still doesn't work, consider uninstalling and reinstalling the Fudu app from the App Store. Should none of these solutions resolve the issue, please don't hesitate to contact our dedicated support team—we're here to help restore full functionality as quickly as possible.

If you're trying to scan a product that lacks a traditional barcode (common with fresh produce, bulk items, or artisan goods), try using the app's ingredient list scanner feature. Simply point your camera at the printed ingredient list, and Fudu will analyze the text to provide nutritional insights and identify any additives or allergens present.

Fudu strives to maintain the highest level of accuracy in product data, but occasionally packaging updates and formula changes occur without notification to database maintainers. If you discover a discrepancy between the app's displayed information and the actual product packaging, it's likely due to a recent reformulation, updated nutritional profile, or packaging redesign by the manufacturer.

You can contribute to database accuracy by submitting a clear, well-lit photo of the current product label directly through the app. Our verification team will review your submission promptly and update the product information accordingly—ensuring that future users receive accurate, up-to-date details. Your participation helps keep the Fudu community informed and protected.

Simply open the App Store on your iPhone or iPad and search for "Fudu: Food Scanner" in the search bar. Once you've located the app, tap the "Get" or "Download" button to begin installation. The app is free to download and requires iOS 13.0 or later.

After the installation is complete, launch the app and follow the straightforward onboarding process to set up your personalized food preferences. Within minutes, you'll be ready to start scanning products and discovering healthier alternatives.

Launch the Fudu app and tap the prominent scan icon located on the main screen—this will activate your device's camera with an on-screen viewfinder. Position your camera so that the product's barcode fits within the highlighted scanning area. The app will automatically recognize and analyze the barcode within seconds.

Once scanned, you'll immediately receive a comprehensive breakdown including detailed ingredient analysis, nutritional information, additive warnings, and intelligent product comparisons suggesting healthier alternatives. No manual data entry required—just point, scan, and instantly access actionable health insights.

An internet connection (via Wi-Fi or mobile data such as 4G/5G) is essential for scanning operations because Fudu leverages advanced cloud-based artificial intelligence and constantly updated product databases to deliver real-time analysis. This architecture ensures you always receive the most current nutritional data, latest scientific research on additives, and accurate product ratings without consuming excessive storage space on your device.

Product deletion is only available through the dedicated "History" screen within the app. Please note that you cannot delete items from the "Overview" or main dashboard screen.

To remove individual products from your complete scan history: Navigate to the History tab, then either tap the trash can icon located in the top-right corner of the screen, or swipe left on any specific product entry and tap the "Delete" button that appears. You can also select multiple items for batch deletion by tapping the edit button.

In upcoming versions of Fudu, you'll be able to edit and correct product information directly within the app interface. Currently, you can report any inaccuracies, missing data, or outdated details to our quality assurance team by using the in-app reporting feature. Our team prioritizes user-submitted corrections and typically updates product records within 24-48 hours of verification.

At this time, Fudu does not offer built-in functionality for classifying, sorting, or creating custom categories for your scanned products. However, this is a frequently requested feature that our development team is actively considering for future releases. We appreciate your feedback and encourage you to share additional feature suggestions through the app's feedback form.

Currently, Fudu does not include integrated sharing functionality that allows you to send product details, ratings, or scan results directly to contacts via social media, messaging apps, or email. This social sharing capability is on our product roadmap and may be introduced in a future update based on user demand and technical feasibility.

No, Fudu is exclusively designed as a mobile application optimized for smartphones and tablets. The app's core functionality—including real-time barcode scanning—requires a device camera, making it inherently suited for mobile platforms. There are currently no plans to develop a standalone desktop application or web-based version accessible from traditional computers.

While Fudu is a powerful nutritional intelligence tool, it does have certain limitations users should be aware of. Some product information in our database may be outdated, incomplete, or temporarily inaccurate—particularly when barcodes are reused by manufacturers or products undergo reformulation without notification. Additionally, Fudu's ratings and recommendations are intended for general educational purposes and do not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The app should not replace consultation with qualified healthcare professionals, registered dietitians, or personalized nutrition counseling—especially for individuals with specific medical conditions, severe allergies, or complex dietary requirements.

We are continuously working to enhance data accuracy through regular database updates, expanded partnerships with manufacturers, and active engagement with our user community. If you identify any errors, missing information, or outdated product details, you can contribute corrections directly through the app—helping us maintain the highest possible standards of accuracy for all users.

Absolutely not. For strong ethical reasons and as a core principle of our company values, Fudu does not sell, lease, trade, or monetize any personally identifiable user data to third parties, advertisers, data brokers, or marketing companies. Your scanning history, food preferences, and personal information remain strictly confidential and are used solely to enhance your individual app experience. We believe your health data belongs to you—not to advertisers or data mining operations.

No—Fudu does not access, collect, store, or have any permissions related to your personal photo library or your device's email contact list. The only camera-related permission the app requests is real-time access to your camera sensor for the exclusive purpose of scanning product barcodes and ingredient labels. No photos are saved to our servers unless you explicitly choose to submit product photos for database improvement—and even then, only the product label images are uploaded, never personal photos.

Your privacy is paramount. Fudu is intentionally designed to empower you with food knowledge—without compromising your personal data, photos, contacts, or digital privacy in any way.

Your scan history and account preferences are securely stored in the cloud and linked to your registered email address. To restore your complete scanning history, favorites, and personalized settings on your new device, simply log in using the same email account credentials you originally used to create your Fudu profile. Once authenticated, all your previous data will automatically sync and be available on your new smartphone.

Fudu employs a comprehensive, multi-dimensional rating system that evaluates each food product based on three critical health factors:

1. Nutritional Quality: Analysis of key nutrients including sugar content, sodium levels, saturated fat, total calories, fiber, protein, and vitamin density per serving
2. Additive Assessment: Identification and risk evaluation of food additives, preservatives, artificial colors, sweeteners, and other chemical ingredients based on current scientific research
3. Organic & Quality Certifications: Recognition of USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, and other third-party quality certifications when applicable

These three factors are algorithmically weighted and combined into a single, easy-to-understand overall health score. This holistic approach helps you quickly understand not just what's in your food—but how it impacts your health—and whether superior alternatives are available on the shelf.

Fudu's comprehensive additive risk assessments are grounded in the most current peer-reviewed scientific research and official guidelines published by internationally recognized health and food safety authorities. Our primary reference sources include studies and regulatory opinions from organizations such as the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), ANSES (French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety), WHO (World Health Organization), FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration), and independent academic research institutions.

Fudu's scientific advisory team continuously monitors emerging research to ensure our additive classifications reflect the latest toxicological findings, epidemiological studies, and regulatory updates. This evidence-based approach means you're making food choices informed by rigorous science—not industry marketing claims or unsubstantiated health fads.

Not directly on a product-by-product basis. Fudu does not evaluate specific pesticide residue levels in individual products because this granular data is not disclosed on consumer packaging and varies significantly depending on agricultural practices, growing seasons, regional regulations, and supply chain factors that change from batch to batch.

However, the app does give positive weight to organic certifications such as USDA Organic, which indicate that products were grown and processed according to strict standards that typically prohibit or severely restrict the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and chemical fertilizers. When a product carries verified organic certification, this is reflected favorably in its overall quality score—providing you with an indicator of reduced pesticide exposure risk.

Certain products may appear in Fudu without an assigned health rating if critical information required for accurate evaluation is missing or incomplete. This typically occurs when products lack essential data such as detailed nutritional facts (calories, macronutrients, micronutrients), a complete ingredient list, or proper additive identification codes.

Without this foundational data, our algorithms cannot generate a reliable, scientifically-backed health score. We prioritize accuracy over completeness—meaning we won't provide a potentially misleading rating based on insufficient information. Our team is actively working to expand and enrich our product database through manufacturer partnerships, official databases, and community contributions. You can accelerate this process by submitting clear, high-resolution photos of product labels—once verified by our quality assurance team, the product will receive a comprehensive analysis and rating.

Nutri-Score is a simplified, color-coded front-of-package nutrition labeling system that provides consumers with an at-a-glance assessment of a food product's overall nutritional quality. Products are rated on a five-point scale from A (dark green - highest nutritional quality) to E (red - lowest nutritional quality).

The Nutri-Score algorithm calculates ratings based on the product's content per 100 grams or 100 milliliters of the following components: energy (calories), total sugars, saturated fatty acids, sodium (salt), dietary fiber, protein, and percentage of fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and certain oils. Positive nutritional elements (fiber, protein, fruits/vegetables) offset negative elements (calories, sugar, saturated fat, sodium) in the final calculation.

This standardized scoring system enables quick, objective comparisons between similar products within the same food category—helping you identify the healthiest options while shopping. Nutri-Score forms one important component of Fudu's comprehensive product evaluation framework.

Nutri-Score represents one essential dimension of Fudu's holistic product evaluation—specifically addressing the nutritional composition and macronutrient balance of the product, including sugar content, salt levels, saturated fat, dietary fiber, and protein quality.

However, Fudu goes significantly beyond basic nutritional analysis by incorporating two additional critical evaluation factors:

1. Additive Risk Assessment: Detailed analysis of all food additives, preservatives, artificial colors, emulsifiers, and sweeteners—identifying potentially harmful or controversial ingredients based on current scientific research and health authority warnings
2. Quality Certifications: Recognition of organic certification (USDA Organic, etc.), Non-GMO verification, and other third-party quality standards that indicate higher production standards and reduced exposure to pesticides and synthetic chemicals

By combining these three dimensions—nutritional quality (Nutri-Score), additive safety, and production standards—Fudu provides a more comprehensive, nuanced understanding of how a product truly impacts your health. This multi-factor approach reveals important information that nutrition labels alone cannot convey.

Organic food products are cultivated and processed using agricultural methods that exclude or strictly limit synthetic pesticides, chemical herbicides, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), synthetic fertilizers, growth hormones, and prophylactic antibiotics. This means significantly reduced exposure to potentially harmful chemical residues that can accumulate in your body over time through repeated dietary consumption.

Emerging scientific research suggests that organic foods may contain higher concentrations of beneficial antioxidants, polyphenols, and certain micronutrients compared to conventionally grown equivalents. While the nutritional science continues to evolve and some studies show mixed results, the consistent finding is that organic certification represents measurably lower pesticide residues—a particularly important consideration for vulnerable populations including pregnant women, infants, young children, and individuals with compromised immune systems.

Beyond personal health benefits, choosing certified organic products supports more sustainable, environmentally responsible farming practices that reduce soil contamination, protect water quality, preserve biodiversity, and minimize agricultural pollution. When you select organic options, you're investing in both your own wellness and the long-term health of our food systems and ecosystems.

Fudu's assessment of aspartame (a widely used artificial sweetener) is based on comprehensive analysis of findings published by multiple independent international health and research organizations, including the IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer, a specialized cancer agency of the WHO) and EFSA (European Food Safety Authority).

In July 2023, the IARC classified aspartame as "possibly carcinogenic to humans" (Group 2B) based on limited evidence from epidemiological studies, animal research, and mechanistic data. However, EFSA and other regulatory bodies including the FDA have maintained that aspartame remains safe for human consumption within established acceptable daily intake (ADI) limits when used as directed.

Given these diverging scientific positions and ongoing research uncertainty, Fudu adopts a precautionary, consumer-protective stance by flagging aspartame as a controversial additive. This classification empowers you to make informed, conscious decisions about artificial sweetener consumption based on the latest—albeit sometimes conflicting—scientific evidence, rather than leaving you unaware of potential concerns while regulatory debates continue.

Additive risk ratings displayed in Fudu are dynamically based on the most current available scientific evidence and official regulatory determinations from trusted health authorities worldwide. As new peer-reviewed research emerges, long-term epidemiological studies are completed, toxicology data is reevaluated, or regulatory agencies update their safety assessments—Fudu updates its additive classifications accordingly to reflect this evolving scientific consensus.

For example, an additive previously considered safe may be reclassified as potentially risky when new studies identify previously unknown health concerns—or conversely, an ingredient flagged as controversial may be reclassified as acceptable if comprehensive new research demonstrates safety. This continuous updating process ensures that Fudu's product evaluations remain aligned with cutting-edge nutritional science rather than becoming outdated and potentially misleading.

When significant additive reclassifications occur that may affect products in your scan history, Fudu proactively notifies users through in-app alerts—keeping you informed about emerging health research and enabling you to adjust your purchasing decisions based on the latest scientific understanding.

Fudu employs intuitive, color-coded visual gauge indicators to display the concentration levels of critical nutrients in each product—including total sugar, sodium (salt), saturated fats, total calories, dietary fiber, and protein—standardized per 100 grams or 100 milliliters to enable accurate product-to-product comparisons.

Each nutritional gauge uses a traffic-light color system that ranges from green (indicating low, favorable levels) through yellow (moderate levels requiring awareness) to red (high levels that may pose health concerns if consumed frequently or in large quantities). This instant visual feedback allows you to rapidly assess nutritional quality and identify potential dietary imbalances without needing to interpret complex nutrition facts panels or perform mental calculations.

These gauges are particularly valuable when comparing similar products side-by-side—for example, when choosing between multiple breakfast cereal brands or yogurt varieties. You can instantly spot which option has less added sugar, lower sodium, or higher protein content, empowering you to make healthier choices effortlessly while shopping under time pressure in retail environments.

The Fudu product database was strategically constructed through a multi-source approach that combines authoritative governmental and institutional databases (including USDA FoodData Central and Open Food Facts), direct partnerships and data submissions from food manufacturers and brands, licensed commercial product databases, and valuable crowdsourced contributions from our engaged user community.

When users scan products not yet in our database, they're encouraged to upload high-quality photographs of product labels, ingredient lists, and nutrition facts panels. These user submissions undergo rigorous verification by our trained data quality team before being added to the live database—ensuring accuracy while rapidly expanding product coverage, particularly for new product launches, regional items, private-label brands, and specialty foods that may not appear in official government databases.

This collaborative, community-powered model enables Fudu to maintain a diverse, current, and constantly growing database that reflects real-world grocery shopping experiences—while maintaining strict quality standards through professional verification processes.

If a scanned product appears in Fudu without an assigned health score, it typically indicates that essential data required for comprehensive evaluation is currently unavailable or incomplete in our database. This missing information usually includes detailed nutritional values (macronutrients, micronutrients, calorie content), a complete ingredient list with additive identification, or standardized serving size data.

Without this foundational information, our scientific algorithms cannot generate a reliable, evidence-based health rating. Rather than providing potentially inaccurate or misleading scores based on incomplete data, Fudu chooses to display "Information Incomplete" until sufficient verified data becomes available.

You can directly contribute to database completeness and help other users by uploading clear, well-lit photos of the product's front label, ingredient panel, and nutrition facts table through the in-app submission feature. Once your submission is reviewed and verified by our quality assurance specialists (typically within 24-72 hours), the product will receive full analysis and rating—benefiting the entire Fudu community and improving food transparency for everyone.