Yuka Empowers Consumers to Challenge Food Additives
The Yuka application, a popular tool among consumers for assessing food product quality, is launching a new feature aimed at empowering users to confront food brands directly regarding the use of harmful additives. With over 60 million users globally, including 22 million in France, Yuka allows users to scan products and receive instant feedback on their health implications. Products are rated with a color code: green for healthy options and red for those containing risky additives.
Starting this week, Yuka users can utilize the 'call out to the brand' feature, enabling them to send pre-filled emails to manufacturers or publicly address their concerns on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter). This initiative is part of a broader campaign to hold food companies accountable for their ingredient choices, particularly those additives linked to health risks such as sweeteners, emulsifiers, and preservatives. Julie Chapon, co-founder of Yuka, emphasizes the need for consumers to demand that brands prioritize health over profit, stating, "We are not just consumers; we can also be real agents of change."
A Call to Action Against Risky Additives
The new feature encourages users to challenge food brands that utilize one of the 55 additives categorized as 'at risk.' This 'name and shame' approach aims to publicly highlight manufacturers who continue to include controversial substances in their products. Chapon noted that the slow pace of regulatory action against these additives necessitates consumer intervention.
Yuka provides users with templates for both email communications and social media posts, making it easier for consumers to express their concerns. For instance, users can report specific products, such as a crunchy milk chocolate muesli containing the additive E471, which has been linked to various health issues including increased cancer risk and disruption of the intestinal microbiota.
This initiative is expected to mobilize Yuka's extensive user base to create a collective impact, urging food companies to reconsider their ingredient choices and enhance consumer health. With around 15,000 products flagged among the three million listed on the app, Yuka aims to foster a community of informed consumers advocating for safer food options.
