Support Center

Get help with Ingredient Helper

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I scan a product barcode?

Simply open the app and tap the "Scan" button. Point your camera at the barcode on any food product, and the app will automatically detect and scan it. Make sure the barcode is well-lit and in focus for best results.

Q: What should I do if a barcode isn't recognized?

If a barcode isn't recognized:

  • Ensure the barcode is clean and not damaged
  • Try adjusting the distance from the barcode
  • Make sure there's adequate lighting
  • You can also manually search for the product by name
  • If the product is very new or regional, it might not be in our database yet
Q: How do I set up allergen alerts?

Go to Settings → Allergen Preferences, then select the allergens you want to be alerted about. When you scan a product containing any of your selected allergens, you'll receive a clear warning.

Q: Can I use the app offline?

The barcode scanning functionality works offline, and previously scanned products are cached on your device. However, you'll need an internet connection to look up new products, get recipe suggestions, and access updated nutritional information.

Q: How do I save my favorite products and recipes?

When viewing a product or recipe, tap the heart icon to add it to your favorites. You can access all your saved items from the Favorites tab in the main menu.

Q: How do I connect to Apple Health or Google Fit?

Go to Settings → Health Integration and toggle on the connection. You'll be prompted to authorize the app to read and write nutrition data. Once connected, scanned products can automatically log to your health app.

Q: Is my data private and secure?

Yes. Most data is processed locally on your device. Scanned products are cached locally, and we don't store your scan history on our servers. Read our Privacy Policy for complete details.

Q: Where does the nutritional information come from?

We source nutritional information from Open Food Facts, a collaborative database of food products. The data is contributed by users worldwide and verified by the community. If you find incorrect information, you can help improve it by contributing to Open Food Facts.

Q: How can I contribute missing product information?

If a product is in our database but missing some information, you can help by taking photos and entering the nutritional facts. The app will guide you through the contribution process.

Q: The app is crashing or not working properly. What should I do?

Try these troubleshooting steps:

  1. Restart the app
  2. Check for app updates in the App Store/Play Store
  3. Restart your device
  4. Ensure you have the latest version of iOS/Android
  5. Clear the app cache in Settings
  6. If the problem persists, contact us with details about your device and the issue

Features Overview

📱

Barcode Scanning

Instantly scan any product to see detailed nutrition info

🥗

Nutrition Analysis

View complete nutritional breakdown and health scores

⚠️

Allergen Detection

Get alerts for your specific allergens and dietary restrictions

👨‍🍳

Recipe Suggestions

Discover healthy recipes based on your scanned ingredients

Troubleshooting

Camera Access Issues

If the app can't access your camera:

Product Database Updates

Our product database is updated regularly. If you notice outdated information, please contact us or contribute updates through the app.

Account & Sync Issues

If you're having trouble with account login or syncing:

System Requirements

Still Need Help?

Can't find the answer you're looking for? We're here to help!

Email us at:

We typically respond within 24-48 hours.

Feedback & Suggestions

We love hearing from our users! If you have ideas for new features or improvements, please email us at feedback@ingredienthelper.com

Report a Bug

Found a bug? Help us improve the app by reporting it. Please include:

Send bug reports to: bugs@ingredienthelper.com