GlutenSwitch App
GlutenSwitch
GlutenSwitch helps people living with coeliac disease or a gluten intolerance to identify alternatives that are both gluten-free and similar in healthiness to the scanned item.
We have recently launched a new standalone app called GlutenSwitch with added features to help people find foods that are both declared gluten-free by the manufacturer and also foods that we have estimated as gluten-free based on their ingredients. We have also introduced a new feature that allows the user to select the store they are in to show choices that are likely available in their location.
The GlutenSwitch app is available in Australia:
FAQs
What is GlutenSwitch?
GlutenSwitch will give you the gluten status of a product, based on if the product is declared gluten-free by the manufacturer or that we have estimated as gluten-free based on their ingredients. GlutenSwitch will also list similar foods that are declared gluten-free and estimated gluten free. You can access this through the app by scanning the product barcode using your smartphone camera.
How do I understand the results if I’m viewing results in Health Star Rating mode?
Each product you see in GlutenSwitch has been rated for its amount of energy, saturated fat, sugar and salt, as well as for other important food components including protein, dietary fibre, fruit vegetables nuts and legumes (FVNL) content, and for some products, calcium. The Health Star Rating (HSR) considers all these factors to give you an idea of how healthy the product is overall; a lower star rating indicates a less healthy choice and a higher star rating indicates a healthier choice. How do I understand results in Traffic Light Label mode?
Each product in GlutenSwitch is rated for its total fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt content. The Traffic Light ratings tell you if a product is low (green), medium (amber), or high (red) in these food components, based on widely accepted nutritional standards.
How are healthier choices identified?
The app identifies healthier choices by comparing the overall nutritional value of foods. The algorithm used is based on the nutrient profiling system, which was originally developed by Food Standards Australia New Zealand. It considers the different factors important to good nutrition, including fats, sugars, salt, energy, protein, dietary fibre, fruit vegetables nuts and legumes (FVNL) content, and (for some products) calcium.
Where does the nutritional information come from?
GlutenSwitch is powered by a large, independent packaged food products database. However, because there are always new products coming on the market and some products are only available in certain areas, not all food products available in your country are in the database yet. This is why we encourage GlutenSwitch users to help us add to the database using the “help us out” functionality.
How can I be sure the information in the app is correct?
Where sufficient information is provided on pack regarding gluten, FoodSwitch has listed the gluten status of the product. The status for each product is based on the most recent package data we have for a product, however the manufacturer may have updated the label or ingredients in the meantime and this may change the gluten status. We recommend always reading the label and contacting the manufacturer if you have any questions or concerns about the product and its gluten status.
The database is updated regularly and undergoes several stages of check. If you find an error, please contact us on the website, or by email at foodswitch@georgeinstitute.org.au.
What if the product I scan isn’t in the database?
If you scan a packaged food product that isn’t in the database, you’ll be invited to help us out, by taking four photos – one of the barcode, one of the front of pack, one of the nutrition label and one of the ingredients list. GlutenSwitch will then automatically send these pictures to us to validate the item and add it to the database.
Please note that with users contributing hundreds of photos to the database every day, it can take some time for the product to appear in the app. We also need to complete a series of quality control checks before listing products on the app.
Why are the products listed in the Healthier Choices not available in this store?
Products may be listed in several retailers or sometimes only in one. Use the store filter feature to only view products ranged by the retailer you are shopping in. Also, products may only be available in certain sized stores or in certain regions. The app lists healthier choices that have been captured on a national basis and so may not be available at a particular store.
Do you have any relationship with food manufacturers? Will they provide any funding to you so that their product can be recommended?
We have no commercial relationship with any food manufacturers that would affect information presented. Products are rated using science-based methods and alternatives are recommended solely based on their healthiness.
Is the ‘Healthier Choice’ recommendation good for all customers?
The healthier choices we suggest are based on typical adult consumers. People with particular diseases like high blood pressure or high cholesterol may need more specific advice.
Why use Health Star Ratings?
In June 2014, the Australian government agreed to the voluntary implementation of an interpretive ‘Health Star Rating’ (HSR) front-of-pack labelling system for packaged foods in Australia. The HSR System is based on an algorithm that awards a star rating, based on the quantity of specific food components within the product, which gives you an idea of how healthy the product is overall – a lower star rating indicates a less healthy choice and a higher star rating indicates a healthier choice.
The HSR system then makes it easier for you to compare similar products within a food category, based on their number of stars. This highlights that while all foods can have a place in your diet, some are better for you than others.
Why use Traffic Light Labels?
Research shows some people find colour-coded labelling easier to understand than other systems. The Traffic Light Labels display colour ratings based on 100g of a product. This helps consumers compare products quickly and easily. If a specific nutrient of a product has any nutritional data missing, it will appear in grey with a dash (-) under the nutrient that is missing.
How do I get the GlutenSwitch app?
Download GlutenSwitch from either the Apple App Store or Google Play store using your mobile device. You need to subscribe to use GlutenSwitch. It is free to use for the first month and you will then be charged $AUD 1.99 per month. You can unsubscribe at any time. An internet connection (mobile data or Wi-Fi) is required to download it. Standard usage charges may apply if using mobile data – check with your internet and mobile service providers for more information.
Can I use the app outside my country?
GlutenSwitch is currently only available in Australia.
Who do I contact if I have a question that hasn’t been answered here?
You can give feedback or ask a question by email at foodswitch@georgeinstitute.org.au
