sativum.ai · Food transparency
Food transparency
Food transparency means being able to see and understand exactly what a product contains, who made it and where it comes from. sativum.ai turns any food label into a readable, rated breakdown.
In the sativum.ai database
Food transparency: know what's really in your food
Why food labels are hard to read
Ingredient lists are legally required, but they are written for compliance, not for people. Additives hide behind E-numbers, function names like "flavour enhancer" or "acidity regulator" replace the actual substance, and marketing phrases sit right next to the real declaration.
Brands add another layer: the name on the front of the pack is often a product brand, while the company that actually makes it is printed in small type on the back.
How a food label scanner helps
With the Spec Sheet Analyzer you photograph the ingredient list (several photos are stitched into one list) or upload a PDF specification. The scan extracts ingredients, allergens, trace warnings, claims and the producer printed on the pack.
- E-numbers are deciphered into their real names and linked to the chemical behind them.
- Allergens come only from the ingredient declaration; "may contain" traces are kept separate.
- Generic labels and marketing text are removed so only real ingredients remain.
- The printed manufacturer and address outrank online guesses, so the producer shown is the one on the pack.
A community database of scanned labels
Every scan contributes to a public community database. Products get a 0–5 star Sativum rating built from equally weighted scores, are grouped by category, and can be compared side by side. Each product records both where it was made and where it was scanned.
Transparency about our own scores
Every rule behind our scores is published on the Evaluation Rules page with worked examples and a changelog, so you can check why a product scores the way it does.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the label scanner free?
- You can browse the community database and product pages for free. Scanning features depend on your plan; see the subscription page for details.
- Can I scan labels in other languages?
- Yes. Ingredients, allergens and claims are recognised independently of language and market.
- Where does the producer information come from?
- From the producer name and address printed on the pack. Online company profiles never override what the label declares.