Allergy profiles
Your allergy profile is what every scan is checked against. Pick from the 9 major allergens, 11 extended allergens and 6 dietary restrictions, add anything else you avoid, and choose how strict the checks should be.
Download on the App Store
What goes in a profile
- 9 major allergens: milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soy and sesame. These are the nine foods US law treats as major food allergens.
- 11 extended allergens: gluten, lactose, corn, gelatin, casein, oats, sulfites, mustard, celery, lupin and mollusks.
- 6 dietary restrictions: vegan, vegetarian, halal, kosher, low FODMAP and low histamine. See dietary restrictions.
- Custom avoid list: add any ingredient you want flagged, even if it isn’t on a list.
- Sensitivity mode: decide whether “may contain” warnings and unknown ingredients count. See sensitivity modes.
How to set one up
- Open the Profiles tab and tap +.
- Enter a name and pick an avatar.
- Choose a scan mode, then tap the allergens, diets and custom items that apply.
- Tap Save. Every scan now checks against this profile.
No account or sign-up is needed, and the profile stays on your device.
Related guides
The 9 major food allergens (US): what labels must show
The list, the labeling rules, and the foods they don't cover.
Hidden names for milk on ingredient labels
Whey, casein, ghee and the false alarms to ignore.
How to read a food label for allergies: a 5-step check
A routine for every product, every time.
Frequently asked questions
Which allergens can I choose?
The 9 major allergens (milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soy and sesame), 11 extended allergens (gluten, lactose, corn, gelatin, casein, oats, sulfites, mustard, celery, lupin and mollusks), and a custom avoid list for anything else.
Can I change my profile later?
Yes. Edit a profile at any time from the Profiles tab. New scans use the updated profile.
Is my allergy profile uploaded anywhere?
No. Profiles are stored on your device. Product lookups send only the barcode number or search term, never your profile.
More SafeScan features
Barcode and ingredient label scanner
Scan a food barcode, or photograph the ingredient label when there's no barcode. SafeScan reads the ingredients and checks them against your allergy profile.
Family profiles
Create an allergy profile for each family member in SafeScan, then scan once and get a separate verdict for everyone. Built for parents and caregivers.
Scan history and favorites
SafeScan keeps every product you scan, grouped by date with its verdict. Filter by Safe, Not Safe or Needs Review, favorite trusted products and add notes.
Shareable allergy card
Turn any SafeScan profile into an allergy card listing allergens, diets and sensitivity, and send it to restaurants, schools, caregivers or friends.
Sensitivity modes
Choose Contains Only, Contains & Advisory or Strict in SafeScan to decide whether "may contain" warnings and unknown ingredients get flagged.
Dietary restrictions
SafeScan checks food for vegan, vegetarian, halal, kosher, low FODMAP and low histamine diets alongside your allergies, and explains every ingredient it flags.
Hidden allergen detection
Whey is milk, albumin is egg and tahini is sesame. SafeScan's allergen dictionary maps more than 1,000 ingredient names to the allergens they come from.
Product search
Search food products by name or brand in SafeScan and see a safety verdict for your allergy profile before you go to the store, without scanning anything.
Product compare
Compare up to 4 food products side by side in SafeScan. See each verdict, flagged ingredients and warnings, and which is safer for your profile.