Is It GF? by Commerxia
An app that flags "may contain gluten" traces
Is It GF? by Commerxia is an iPhone app that will show precautionary "may contain" gluten warnings as their own result, separate from "contains gluten" and from "no gluten found". This arrives in the next update, which is being prepared for the App Store; today's version checks the ingredient list for gluten sources.
Download Is It GF? on the App Store
Differentiators
- A separate "May contain traces" result (next update), shown as unsafe for coeliacs, so cross-contamination warnings aren't hidden inside a "safe" answer.
- Reads warnings in seven label languages (next update): English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese and Dutch, such as "may contain", "peut contenir", "puede contener", "kann Spuren enthalten", "può contenere", "pode conter" and "kan sporen bevatten".
- "Labelled gluten-free" result (next update) for products certified gluten-free even if they use oats, wheat starch or barley malt, so you can decide if you're sensitive.
- Won't guess (next update): a "Can't verify" result when the data isn't there.
Why "may contain" matters
"May contain" or "made in a factory that handles wheat" is a precautionary allergen label. It isn't an ingredient, so an app that only reads the ingredient list can miss it. Many people with coeliac disease avoid these products. Is It GF? will put this warning in its own result so you can see it at a glance.
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
- Is there an app that detects "may contain gluten" on labels?
- Yes. The next update of Is It GF? by Commerxia adds a separate "May contain traces" result for precautionary warnings, read in English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese and Dutch. It is being prepared for the App Store; the current version checks the ingredient list for gluten sources.
- Is a "may contain" product safe for coeliacs?
- Is It GF? treats "may contain" as unsafe for coeliacs and shows it separately. Ask your doctor or dietitian how strict you need to be.
- Where does the warning come from?
- From the product's label and allergen data in the database, or from the photo of the label you take.
- 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.
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.