Food Barcode Scanner - Product Calories and Macros

How Does the Barcode Scanner Work?

Point your camera at a barcode, and EatSee looks up its number in EatSee's shared product database and an open, public food product database. If it finds the product, you'll see its calories, protein, carbs, fat, fiber, sugars, and salt.

Values come from product data, not AI estimates, so barcode scans don't use AI analyses. Scanning works with a free account and Premium, even after you've used your daily analyses.

You choose the serving: 100 g, the serving on the package, or your own amount. That matters because the serving listed on the label isn't always what you actually eat. A bag of chips or a chocolate bar eaten in one sitting often contains several servings as defined by the manufacturer.

Barcode, Label, or Meal Photo?

• Packaged product - scan the barcode. It's the fastest option and doesn't use AI analyses.
• Product not in the database - photograph the nutrition information on the package. The product will be added to EatSee's shared database.
• Meal on your plate - add a home-cooked meal or restaurant dish with a photo. See how the photo calorie tracker works.
• Fruit, vegetables, and products sold by weight - these don't have barcodes. Check their calories in our calorie chart, then add them in the app by photo or voice.

How to Enter the Right Serving

The scanner knows the product's nutrition information, but not how much you'll eat. A few simple tips:

• Snacks and sweets - check the weight of the whole package and enter how much you actually eat.
• Cereal, nuts, and oils - for calorie-dense foods, it's worth weighing your serving or measuring it with a tablespoon. Our kitchen measurement converter can help you work out how much a tablespoon or cup weighs.
• Drinks - for juice or drinkable yogurt, check whether the serving is listed in milliliters or grams.

For step-by-step instructions and common mistakes, read our article How to Scan a Product Barcode with Your Phone.

What Should You Look At Besides Calories?

For store-bought products, it's worth checking more than calories. EatSee also shows fiber, sugars, and salt, and compares them with guidelines in your daily summary: at least 25 g of fiber, sugars accounting for no more than 18% of your calorie goal (90 g at 2000 kcal), and no more than 5 g of salt. Sweetened yogurts, breakfast cereals, and ready-made sauces can quickly use up a sizable share of your daily sugar or salt limit.

The barcode scanner is one of EatSee's features, alongside photo and voice calorie tracking and meal plans. Explore them all on our calorie tracking app page.

Nutrition information in EatSee is estimated, and the app is for informational purposes—it doesn't replace advice from a doctor or dietitian. If you have a medical condition or are pregnant or breastfeeding, set your goals with a professional. Where the app gets its data.