UK Nutrition & Food Safety Guides
Last reviewed: 4 June 2026
Evidence-based guides on calorie counting, nutrition tracking, food safety, and healthy eating in the UK.
Is the Yuka app free? What's free and what £15/year adds
Yes , scanning and the 0 to 100 score cost nothing. What Premium adds (search, offline mode, unlimited history), Yuka's choose-what-you-pay tiers, and what no tier does. Verified against the UK App Store listing, June 2026.
10 June 2026 • 6 min readIs the Ivy food app free? What it costs, and the free alternatives
Ivy's full features need a Pro subscription after a 3-day trial , its UK listing shows Pro Access purchases from £8.99 to £39.99. The scanners with a permanent free tier, honestly compared.
10 June 2026 • 7 min readBest ultra-processed food app UK 2026 , how to tell if your food is UPF
6 UK UPF-relevant apps compared, including ours. What NOVA Group 4 actually means (Monteiro 2019), what SACN said in 2023, what Tim Spector argues, and which app reads UPF from a UK barcode reliably.
30 May 2026 • 13 min readBest workout tracker apps UK 2026 , strength, cardio and food in one
How 6 workout trackers compare in the UK in 2026 , including ours. Which combine strength logging with food tracking, which are gym-only, and which to pick if you want both in one app.
28 May 2026 • 10 min readBest food reaction tracker apps UK 2026 , how to find what's triggering you
How 5 food and symptom apps compare in the UK in 2026 , bloating, IBS, skin flare-ups, intolerance. What each does, the paper diary your GP still suggests, and what no app can tell you.
28 May 2026 • 11 min readWhich vitamins are UK adults actually missing in 2026?
Straight from the UK government's NDNS 2019-2023 dataset: vitamin D, folate, iron, iodine, magnesium and selenium are the population-level gaps. Who's most at risk for each, the food sources to look for and how to check your own intake against UK targets.
28 May 2026 • 12 min readSigns you're low on vitamin D
Low mood through winter, aching bones, getting ill again and again. Those three together are a recognisable pattern. Here's what the NHS says about it, what your body is doing, and the one supplement worth taking.
May 2026 • 8 min readSigns of low iron in women
Tiredness, breathlessness, a fluttering heart, pale skin. These are the signs your iron stores may be running low, and why women aged 19 to 50 are most likely to notice them.
May 2026 • 9 min readSigns you're low on B12
Pins and needles, a sore tongue, mood shifts without a reason. B12 has a few signs that set it apart from ordinary tiredness, and the cause matters as much as the symptoms.
May 2026 • 8 min readSigns you're low on magnesium
Calf cramps overnight, sleep that never quite restores you, a background hum of anxiety. These are the patterns that show up first when magnesium runs low , and they're worth understanding before reaching for a supplement.
May 2026 • 8 min readScanning at Aldi: a practical nutrition guide for own-brand shopping
Aldi's range is small and roughly 90% own-brand. Here's what that means when you're trying to scan barcodes for nutrition info at the shelf, and what to do when a product isn't found.
May 2026 • 6 min readScanning at Asda: barcode nutrition guide for Asda shoppers
How to scan Asda barcodes for full nutrition data at the shelf. Covers every own-brand line, the Cashpot loyalty scheme, and what to do when a George barcode returns nothing.
May 2026 • 6 min readScanning at Morrisons: a nutrition scanner guide
How to use a barcode scanner at Morrisons, from own-brand lines to Market Street counter labels. What scans cleanly, what needs a manual add, and where the More card fits in.
May 2026 • 7 min readScanning at Lidl: a guide to tracking nutrition on own-brand shopping
Lidl's own-brand range covers around 85% of the shop floor. Here is how a food scanner app handles Deluxe, Vemondo, Pilos and the rest, plus where it falls short with limited-time deals.
May 2026 • 7 min readScanning at M&S
M&S is almost entirely own-brand, which makes it unusually well suited to a barcode scanner. Here's what you find when you scan the ready meals, specialist ranges and Dine In staples.
May 2026 • 6 min readHow much iron do women need a day? (UK guide)
The UK figure is 14.8mg a day for women aged 19 to 50 , not the 18mg American sites quote. Here's what changes after 50, why pregnancy is different, and why eating the target doesn't mean absorbing it.
May 2026 • 6 min readNutraSafe vs Lifesum
Both apps track food. So what's actually different? We compare NutraSafe and Lifesum on micronutrient depth, additive scanning, price, database coverage, and where each one is the better fit.
May 2026 • 8 min readWhat does NRV mean on a food label?
That percentage on a vitamin or mineral panel stands for Nutrient Reference Value. Here is what it means, how it differs from RI, and why some NRVs on labels don't match NHS recommendations.
May 2026 • 7 min readHow to get more vitamin D in winter
From October to March, British sunlight can't make vitamin D in your skin. The NHS recommends a 10µg daily supplement. Here's what that means in practice, and what food does alongside it.
May 2026 • 7 min readWhy Am I Always Tired? The Food Side of the Answer
Tiredness has four nutrient suspects worth ruling out before a blood test , iron, B12, vitamin D and magnesium. Here's the food side: which signs point to which, and what to track for two weeks before booking your GP.
May 2026 • 9 min readThe AI Nutrition Coach That Reads Your Food Diary First
Most AI chat starts blank. Ours opens with your diary, vitamin gaps, goals and flagged foods already loaded , then answers like it's been paying attention.
April 2026 • 8 min readHow We Grade a UK Food: the Whole Rubric
Most food-scoring apps hide the rubric. We don't. Here's exactly what goes into a NutraSafe grade, what we deliberately leave out, and why.
April 2026 • 6 min readHow to Spot Sneaky Additives in Your Weekly Shop
The front of the pack tells you it's "high protein". The additives hide round the back in ten-point italic. Here's how to catch them in seconds.
April 2026 • 7 min readOne App for Food, Workouts and Fasting , £3.99 a Month
Three apps for calorie counting, workouts and fasting can cost £15+ a month together. We put the lot in one app , honest comparison, not a sales pitch.
April 2026 • 7 min readWhat a Year of Food Logging Actually Shows You
One day tells you nothing. A week tells you a little. A year quietly changes how you shop. Here's what the long view actually surfaces.
April 2026 • 6 min readAre You Getting Enough Vitamins? A Straight-Up UK NRV Check
"Balanced diet" is the vaguest phrase in health. We tried to make it concrete , every food you log cross-referenced against UK NRV targets.
April 2026 • 8 min readWhat Are E-Numbers? A Plain English Guide for UK Shoppers
E-numbers are codes for food additives approved for use in the UK and EU. Some are vitamins, some are preservatives, some are colourings. Here's what they all mean.
February 2026 • 10 min readAre E-Numbers Bad for You? What the Science Actually Shows
Most E-numbers are approved for UK use, some are just vitamins. But a few have more debate around them. Here's what EFSA, the FSA, and the research actually say.
February 2026 • 9 min readFood Allergy vs Food Intolerance: How to Tell the Difference
A food allergy involves the immune system and can be life-threatening. A food intolerance is digestive and uncomfortable. Here's how to tell which is which.
February 2026 • 8 min readWhat Causes Bloating After Eating? Common Triggers and What to Do
Bloating after eating is usually caused by gas from FODMAPs, eating too fast, or food intolerances. Here are the common triggers and practical ways to reduce it.
February 2026 • 9 min readUltra-Processed Food (UPF): A Complete UK Guide
The UK gets ~57% of calories from ultra-processed foods. Here's what UPF actually means, how to identify it, and what the research says about health effects.
February 2026 • 11 min readHow to Read a UK Food Label in 60 Seconds
Traffic lights, per-100g columns, ingredient lists, allergen labelling , here's how to decode any UK food label quickly and confidently.
February 2026 • 8 min readThe Southampton Six: Which Food Additives May Affect Children?
Six artificial food colourings were linked to hyperactivity in a 2007 study. Most UK brands have removed them, but they still appear in some products.
February 2026 • 8 min readCommon Food Intolerance Symptoms (and What to Do About Them)
Bloating, cramps, diarrhoea, headaches, fatigue , food intolerance symptoms are mainly digestive and appear hours after eating. Here's how to identify your triggers.
February 2026 • 9 min readHow to Start Calorie Counting Without Obsessing (UK Guide)
Track what you already eat for a week first. Use the data to make small, sustainable changes. The goal is awareness, not perfection.
February 2026 • 9 min readIs Aspartame Safe? What the FSA, EFSA, and WHO Actually Say
In 2023, the WHO classified aspartame as "possibly carcinogenic" (Group 2B) while simultaneously reaffirming its safe intake level. Here's what that actually means.
February 2026 • 9 min readHow to Get Enough Fibre (Most People in the UK Don't)
The UK recommends 30g of fibre per day. The average adult eats 18g. Here's how to close the gap with simple swaps , plus what a 30g day actually looks like.
February 2026 • 9 min readHow to Get Enough Iron on a Plant-Based Diet (UK Guide)
Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency worldwide. Here's what plant-based eaters actually need to know , best sources, absorption tips, and daily targets.
February 2026 • 8 min readWhy Does Bread Make Me Bloated? Fructans, Gluten & What to Do
It's probably not gluten. Most bread bloating comes from fructans , a type of fibre wheat contains. Here's what the science says and how to find bread that works for you.
February 2026 • 7 min readHow to Count Calories for Weight Loss: Complete UK Guide 2026
Master calorie counting with our evidence-based guide. Learn exactly how to calculate your deficit, track accurately, and lose weight sustainably.
January 2026 • 8 min readComplete Guide to Macros: Protein, Carbs, Fats Explained
Go beyond calories. Understand macronutrients and how to balance protein, carbs, and fats for your goals , whether weight loss, muscle gain, or health.
January 2026 • 10 min readBest Food Scanner Apps UK 2026: Complete Comparison Guide
Compare NutraSafe, Yuka, MyFitnessPal and 4 more UK food scanner apps. Features, accuracy, cost, and which is best for your goals.
January 2026 • 12 min readWhy Am I Not Losing Weight? 12 Common Calorie Counting Mistakes
Fix hidden calorie counting errors sabotaging your weight loss. Portion sizes, liquid calories, weekend eating and more. Troubleshoot now.
January 2026 • 9 min readBest MyFitnessPal alternatives UK 2026
MyFitnessPal moved its barcode scanner behind Premium. Six UK alternatives compared , including ours , with every claim verified against the app's own current page.
Updated 3 June 2026 • 12 min readHow Many Calories Should I Eat to Lose Weight? UK Calculator
Free UK calorie calculator for weight loss. Enter age, weight, height, activity to get your TDEE and calorie deficit target. Science-based.
January 2026 • 8 min readTesco Barcode Scanner: Track Nutrition While Shopping
Free guide to scanning Tesco barcodes for nutrition info. Best apps, Clubcard compatibility, and tips for tracking calories at Tesco UK.
January 2026 • 7 min readSainsbury's Food Scanner: Track Nutrition with Barcode Apps
Guide to scanning Sainsbury's barcodes for instant nutrition info. Nectar compatibility, Taste the Difference scanning, and shopping tips.
January 2026 • 6 min readHow to Track Food Intolerances: Find Your Trigger Foods
Step-by-step guide to identifying food intolerances using elimination diet and food diary. Track symptoms, find triggers, discover patterns.
January 2026 • 9 min readBest Food Allergy Tracker Apps UK (2026)
Compare best UK food allergy tracking apps. NutraSafe, Spoon Guru reviewed. Features, costs, barcode scanning, allergen warnings.
January 2026 • 5 min readHow to Track Vitamins and Minerals (Not Just Calories)
Learn how to track micronutrients beyond calories. Essential vitamins, minerals, daily values, best apps, and why nutrition quality matters.
January 2026 • 8 min readBest Vitamin Tracker Apps UK (2026)
Compare best UK vitamin and mineral tracking apps. NutraSafe, Cronometer, MyPlate reviewed. Features, costs, micronutrient coverage.
January 2026 • 6 min readHow to Use a Food Scanner App: Complete Beginner's Guide
Learn how barcode scanner apps work, which foods to scan, and how to get accurate nutrition data from UK supermarket products.
January 2026 • 7 min readLast updated: 4 June 2026
Free to log up to 25 foods/day · NutraSafe Pro £3.99/month or £34.99/year for AI Coach, allergen warning detail and full reaction history.