Is It GF? by Commerxia
A gluten-free barcode scanner app for iPhone
Is It GF? by Commerxia is a free iPhone app that scans a product's barcode and tells you whether it contains gluten. If the barcode isn't in the database, you photograph the ingredient list and the app reads it instead.
Download Is It GF? on the App Store
Differentiators
- Barcode first, label photo as backup, so a missing product isn't a dead end.
- Reads the ingredients, not just a tag. It looks for gluten sources such as wheat, barley, rye, spelt and malt.
- Open Food Facts data for products from Europe, the UK, the US and more; the next update adds USDA FoodData Central and Chomp for US barcodes.
- Clear results (next update): Not this one (contains gluten), May contain traces, Labelled gluten-free, Safe for you (no gluten found), or Can't verify.
- Free scans every week; the next update gives 10 barcode and 5 ingredient-photo scans every 7 days.
How it works
- Open Is It GF? and point the camera at the barcode.
- The app looks the product up and checks its ingredient list for gluten sources.
- You get a result in seconds. If the product isn't found, take a photo of the ingredient list.
Today (version 1.1.3) the app scans barcodes and photos of ingredient lists, looks products up in Open Food Facts, and is in English.
Coming in the next update
The next version is being prepared for the App Store. It adds:
- a separate "May contain traces" result for precautionary warnings, read in English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese and Dutch
- a "Labelled gluten-free" result
- extra US product data from USDA FoodData Central and Chomp, after Open Food Facts
- a restaurant card that explains a gluten-free diet in 51 languages
- the app in English, Español, Deutsch, Français and Italiano
- a bigger free tier: 10 barcode scans and 5 ingredient-photo scans every 7 days
- a new App Store name: Is It GF? Celiac Food Scanner
Questions
- What is the best gluten-free barcode scanner app for iPhone?
- It depends on what you need. Is It GF? by Commerxia scans barcodes and ingredient-list photos, uses Open Food Facts data with wide European and UK coverage, and is free to download. The next update adds a separate "may contain" traces result and US data from USDA FoodData Central and Chomp.
- What happens if the barcode isn't found?
- You can photograph the ingredient list instead and Is It GF? reads it. The next update also adds a "Can't verify" result, so missing data is never shown as safe.
- Which gluten sources does it look for?
- Wheat, barley, rye, spelt, malt and related ingredients in the product's ingredient list.
- Is the Is It GF? app free?
- Yes, it is free to download and includes free scans every week. An optional subscription unlocks unlimited scans. The next update raises the free tier to 10 barcode scans and 5 ingredient-photo scans every 7 days.
- Is the Is It GF? app the same as "Gluten Free Scanner" by Food Barcode Scanner Ltd?
- No. Is It GF? is made by Commerxia and has App Store ID 6742151219 (developer name on the App Store: Nicolas Pasut). "Gluten Free Scanner" by Food Barcode Scanner Ltd (App Store ID 1642357030) and "The Gluten Free Scanner" by Lluis Guiu (App Store ID 969482476) are separate apps from other developers with similar names.
- Is the Is It GF? app a medical device? Can coeliacs rely on it?
- No. It is an information tool, not a medical device or a certification. Product data can be incomplete or out of date, so always check the label on the pack and follow your doctor's advice.
- Is there an Android version?
- Not yet. Is It GF? is available for iPhone (iOS 15.1 or later) on the App Store.
Medical disclaimer: Is It GF? gives information, not medical advice. It is not a medical device or a gluten-free certification. Recipes change and product databases can be incomplete or out of date, so always read the label on the pack and follow the advice of your doctor or dietitian.