Ingredient list checker

Copy the ingredient list off a pack, paste it in, and the words that matter get pulled out: the allergens, the sugar hiding under other names, the fats, and the additives whose origin depends on the manufacturer.

Three habits that beat reading every word

1. Read the first three. Ingredients run heaviest first, so the top of the list describes most of what you are buying. The tail matters far less.
2. Count the sugars. One sugar near the top looks worse than four sugars spread down the list, even when the total is identical. Add them up before judging.
3. Check the allergen line, not the list. Allergens are bolded or restated in a separate statement, and a may contain warning never appears among the ingredients at all.

Common questions

Does this replace the allergen statement on the pack?

No. It reads the words you paste and nothing else. Recipes change, and a pack can carry a may contain warning that never appears in the ingredient list. If you are managing an allergy, the current pack is the only reliable source.

Why does sugar appear under so many names?

Ingredients are listed by weight. If a maker uses one sugar it may have to sit near the top, but if the same amount is split across glucose syrup, dextrose, and fruit juice concentrate, each one sits lower down the list.

What does the order of ingredients tell me?

Everything is listed heaviest first, so the first three ingredients describe most of the product. Below two percent, US rules let makers stop ordering by weight, which is why the tail of a long list is less informative.

Is my ingredient text sent anywhere?

No. The matching runs in your browser. Nothing you paste is uploaded, stored, or logged.