How to Read Ingredient Lists in the Store [No Glasses]
Ingredient lists are printed small, often on curved packaging in several languages, and you are reading them standing in an aisle. Hold your phone about 10 cm from the label, zoom to 4x to 5x, and take a photo so you can read the list with the product back on the shelf. In the EU and UK, allergens must be emphasized in the list, usually in bold, so scan for bold words first.
Why ingredient lists are hard to read in the aisle
An ingredient list is often a paragraph of 5 point type wrapped around a curved jar label, repeated in four languages. Checking a jar of pesto for cashews without reading glasses is close to impossible by eye.
Store lighting is usually bright, so the problem is size, curvature, and clutter rather than darkness. A phone camera deals with all three if you photograph the label instead of reading it live.
Photograph, then read
Reading live through the camera with a jar in one hand and a phone in the other is awkward. Capture the label once and read from the image.
- Rest the product on the shelf edge or hold it against your body so it is still.
- Hold the phone roughly 10 cm from the label, parallel to the text, and zoom to 4x to 5x.
- Tap the ingredient list to focus and take the photo.
- Put the product back, then pinch to zoom on the image and scroll through the list at your own pace.
In LoupeLens, one tap focuses and captures, and the shot goes to a LoupeLens album in Photos, so when you compare several brands their labels are all in one place. The Camera app works too, with more steps.
Curved labels on jars and cans need two or three photos, because the text at the edges curves away from the lens and blurs. Rotate the jar a third of a turn between shots.
Find the allergens first
If you are checking for an allergen, you do not need to read the whole list. In the European Union and the United Kingdom, the 14 regulated allergens must be emphasized within the ingredient list, which in practice means bold, capitals, or a different color. Zoom out to the whole list and look for the emphasized words first.
The 14 are: cereals containing gluten, crustaceans, eggs, fish, peanuts, soybeans, milk, nuts, celery, mustard, sesame, sulphur dioxide and sulphites, lupin, and molluscs. Many labels repeat them in a separate "Contains" line, and "May contain" statements about cross-contact are voluntary. In the United States, the major allergens must be declared in plain English, either in parentheses after the ingredient, such as "whey (milk)", or in a "Contains" statement below the list, so read that line rather than looking for bold type. For more on shopping with allergies, see grocery shopping with food allergies.
Understanding the order
Ingredients are listed in descending order by weight at the time of manufacture. The first three or four tell you most of what the product is. If sugar, glucose syrup, or a vegetable oil appears first, that is mainly what you are buying. Anything below about the fifth position is present in small amounts.
Compound ingredients are broken down in brackets, for example "chocolate (cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, emulsifier: soya lecithin)". Allergens often hide inside these brackets, so read them.
E-numbers and additive names
European labels list additives either by name or by E-number, usually with their function first, such as "preservative: E202" or "emulsifier: lecithin". The number ranges are a quick guide.
| Range | Function | Common examples |
|---|---|---|
| E100 to E199 | Colors | E100 curcumin, E160a carotenes, E150 caramel |
| E200 to E299 | Preservatives | E202 potassium sorbate, E211 sodium benzoate, E250 sodium nitrite |
| E300 to E399 | Antioxidants and acidity regulators | E300 ascorbic acid (vitamin C), E330 citric acid |
| E400 to E499 | Thickeners, stabilizers, emulsifiers | E412 guar gum, E440 pectin, E471 fatty acid esters |
| E600 to E699 | Flavor enhancers | E621 monosodium glutamate |
| E900 to E999 | Glazing agents, sweeteners | E950 acesulfame K, E951 aspartame, E955 sucralose |
If you avoid a specific additive, learn its number so you can scan for a three-digit code instead of reading every word. The same additive may appear by name on one brand and by number on another.
Multilingual labels
Products sold in several countries carry the ingredient list in each language, one after another, separated by two-letter codes: EN, DE, FR, NL, FI, SV, and so on. You only need one section.
Zoom out far enough to see the language codes, find yours, then zoom into that block alone. With a photo of the full label on screen, this takes seconds. If your language is missing, use the fact that the ingredient order is the same in every language: an unfamiliar word in fourth place matches the fourth word in a language you do read.
Tips for the store
- Glossy labels reflect the overhead lights. Tilt the package slightly away from the lights rather than moving closer.
- Leave the flashlight off in a bright store. It adds glare on shiny film and rarely helps.
- Chilled cabinets fog a camera lens for a moment; wipe it with your sleeve.
- Frozen food labels are on the back, often under a layer of frost. A photo at 3x often reads better than the live view, because you can zoom in on the still image and raise the contrast in the Photos editor if needed.
- For nutrition tables, the article on reading nutrition labels with your phone covers per 100 g comparisons, and how to read expiration date codes explains the date stamp on the same pack.
Allergen labeling rules differ by country and this article is general information, not medical advice. If you have a serious allergy, rely on the manufacturer's declaration and your own clinician's advice.
Frequently asked questions
How can I read an ingredient list in the store without my glasses?
Use your phone as a magnifier. Hold it about 10 cm from the label, zoom to 4x to 5x, tap to focus, and take a photo. Put the product back and read the list from the image by pinching to zoom. Curved jar labels may need two or three photos.
Why are some ingredients in bold on food labels?
In the EU and UK, the 14 regulated allergens such as milk, nuts, gluten, and soy must be emphasized within the ingredient list, usually in bold. Scanning for bold words is the fastest way to check a product for an allergen.
What do E-numbers on ingredient lists mean?
E-numbers are European codes for approved additives. E100s are colors, E200s preservatives, E300s antioxidants and acidity regulators, E400s thickeners and emulsifiers, E600s flavor enhancers, and E900s include glazing agents and sweeteners. The same additive can appear by name on one product and by number on another.
How do I find my language on a multilingual food label?
Look for the two-letter language codes such as EN, DE, FR, or FI that separate the blocks. Zoom out to find yours, then zoom into only that section. Ingredient order is identical in every language, which helps if yours is missing.