How accurate is the AllergIQ allergen scanner?

The scanner combines OCR text recognition with an allergen database that includes alternative names, derived ingredients, and E-numbers associated with each allergen. It errs on the side of caution and will flag possible matches conservatively. For severe allergies, always read the label yourself and ask staff to verify ingredients.

Does the allergen scanner work offline?

Scans require an internet connection to call our AI service so results stay fast and up-to-date. The app stores your allergy profile and scan history locally so you can review past results offline.

What allergens does the scanner detect?

AllergIQ recognises all 14 UK/EU major allergens (peanut, tree nut, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, mollusc, wheat/gluten, soy, sesame, celery, mustard, lupin, sulphites) plus less common allergens, niche intolerances, and allergen-derived additives. It also flags any custom allergen you add to your profile.

Can the scanner read labels in other languages?

Yes. AllergIQ supports ingredient label scanning in major European and Asian languages. This is particularly useful for travel — scan a package in Spanish, Italian, German, or Japanese and the app checks the contents against your allergy profile.

Can it scan restaurant menus or handwritten labels?

The scanner works best on printed ingredient lists. It can read clearly printed menus, but handwritten labels and very stylised fonts may return partial results. For restaurants, we recommend pairing the scanner with a printed allergy card or chef card.

How much does scanning cost?

Creating an allergy profile is free and includes a monthly scan allowance. Heavy users can buy scan credit packs from inside the app — useful if you do a weekly grocery shop and want to check every new product.

Is my scan data private?

Yes. Your allergy profile and scan history are private to your account. Scan images are processed for the purpose of allergen detection and aren't shared with third parties.

AI Powered

AI allergen scanner — check food labels instantly

Point your phone at any ingredient label and AllergIQ checks it against your allergy profile in seconds. The scanner spots hidden allergens, allergen-derived additives, and may-contain warnings you'd miss with the naked eye.

Free to download. Free monthly scan allowance. Scan credit packs available for heavy users.

See pricing & scan credits →

AllergIQ AI allergen scanner showing detected allergens highlighted on a food label

How AllergIQ allergen scanning works

Three steps from opening the app to a clear safety check on any food product.

Build your allergy profile

Add every allergen you need to avoid — major allergens, less common ones, additives, and any ingredient you react to. Your profile drives every scan.

Scan the ingredient label

Point your phone camera at any food packaging. AllergIQ reads the ingredient list using OCR and runs it through our allergen database.

Get an instant safety check

The app flags detected allergens, hidden sources like soy lecithin, and may-contain warnings — so you can make a confident call in the supermarket aisle.

What the allergen scanner detects

AllergIQ doesn't just match plain allergen names — it understands the unfamiliar ones too.

14 major allergens

Peanut, tree nut, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, mollusc, wheat, soy, sesame, celery, mustard, lupin, sulphites.

Hidden allergens

Casein (milk), albumin (egg), lecithin (often soy), semolina (wheat), and dozens of other technical names.

E-numbers and additives

Flags allergen-derived additives by code. See our full food additives directory.

May-contain warnings

Cross-contamination notices like "may contain peanuts" are surfaced so you don't miss them in fine print.

Custom allergens

Add any ingredient or intolerance to your profile — the scanner respects it on every scan.

Multilingual labels

Scan packaging in major European and Asian languages — essential for travel.

Why use an AI allergen scanner?

vs reading labels manually

Ingredient lists are long, small, and often written in technical language. A scanner doesn't get tired or distracted, and it recognises allergen-derived ingredients you might not know to look for.

vs general translation apps

Translating "lecithin" tells you what the word means but not that it's usually soy-derived. AllergIQ is built specifically for allergen detection, not generic text translation.

vs static allergen databases

Looking up one ingredient at a time is slow. AllergIQ scans the whole label at once and only flags what matters to your allergy profile.

Scanner pricing

Download the AllergIQ app for free on iOS or Android. Every account includes a free monthly scan allowance — plenty for occasional users. Heavy users (e.g. weekly grocery shoppers) can buy scan credit packs from inside the app for ongoing use.

View full pricing

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about the AllergIQ allergen scanner.

How accurate is the AllergIQ allergen scanner?: The scanner combines OCR text recognition with an allergen database that includes alternative names, derived ingredients, and E-numbers associated with each allergen. It errs on the side of caution and will flag possible matches conservatively. For severe allergies, always read the label yourself and ask staff to verify ingredients.
Does the allergen scanner work offline?: Scans require an internet connection to call our AI service so results stay fast and up-to-date. The app stores your allergy profile and scan history locally so you can review past results offline.
What allergens does the scanner detect?: AllergIQ recognises all 14 UK/EU major allergens (peanut, tree nut, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, mollusc, wheat/gluten, soy, sesame, celery, mustard, lupin, sulphites) plus less common allergens, niche intolerances, and allergen-derived additives. It also flags any custom allergen you add to your profile.
Can the scanner read labels in other languages?: Yes. AllergIQ supports ingredient label scanning in major European and Asian languages. This is particularly useful for travel — scan a package in Spanish, Italian, German, or Japanese and the app checks the contents against your allergy profile.
Can it scan restaurant menus or handwritten labels?: The scanner works best on printed ingredient lists. It can read clearly printed menus, but handwritten labels and very stylised fonts may return partial results. For restaurants, we recommend pairing the scanner with a printed allergy card or chef card.
How much does scanning cost?: Creating an allergy profile is free and includes a monthly scan allowance. Heavy users can buy scan credit packs from inside the app — useful if you do a weekly grocery shop and want to check every new product.
Is my scan data private?: Yes. Your allergy profile and scan history are private to your account. Scan images are processed for the purpose of allergen detection and aren't shared with third parties.

Start scanning safely today

Download the AllergIQ app and run your first allergen scan in minutes. Free for iOS and Android.