Welcome to the Nutrition Diva Podcast, a show where we take a closer look at nutrition research, headlines and

trends and trends,

I'm your host Monica Reinagle and today's topic was suggested by Cheryl

who was one of several listeners who have asked me about the Yucca app.

I recently downloaded the Yucca app, she wrote, and I'm finding it super interesting.

I was wondering if you had any opinion on its usefulness or accuracy.

Yucca is a free mobile app launched in 2017 that allows users to scan bar codes

on foods and cosmetic products and get a rating on their health impact.

Each product is rated on a scale from 1 to 100,

and the higher the score, the better the products impact on your health.

In addition to the score, you also get detailed information on the product's ingredients,

additives, nutritional values, and so on.

And if a product scores poorly,

the app will suggest some healthier alternatives

that you might consider instead.

You could gets credit, and they take credit for the fact that they do not accept advertising or

sponsorships from brands and that helps to ensure that the ratings are independent of financial

influence, which is really important. are independent is not necessarily the same as objective.

The ratings still reflect the biases of whoever designs the rating system.

And I'll have more to say about that in just a moment.

There are also some lingering questions about the accuracy and the consistency of the system.

Because the exact algorithms that determine the scores aren't publicly disclosed,

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