We've been running the FoodHealth Score Chrome extension for a few weeks across Target, Walmart, Amazon Fresh, and Whole Foods. We thought we knew what people wanted. We were wrong.
What we assumed: Show people a FoodHealth Score, suggest a better product, done.
What actually happened: People didn't just want a swap. They wanted to know why. A number wasn't enough - shoppers want to understand what makes the alternative better before they trust it. More fiber. Less added sugar. A cleaner ingredient list. Once we added those insights alongside the swap suggestion, we saw a lot more swaps clicked on.
It makes complete sense in hindsight. You wouldn't take a stranger's recommendation at face value. Why would you take an algorithm's?
This tool delivers food transparency right when you need it most: during your shopping experience. It’s time we empowered ourselves to make truly informed food choices.