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Yuka, the #1 trending Apple Store health app co-founded by Julie Chapon and Zoé Kerlo, is giving consumers more power to demand healthier products. With its new feature, users in France and the U.S. can now contact brands directly about harmful ingredients in their food and cosmetic products.
The “Call-out the Brand” feature allows users to email or post on social media to urge companies to reconsider their product formulations. When scanning a product flagged with harmful ingredients—like endocrine disruptors, carcinogens, or allergens—users can click the “Call-out the Brand” button to generate a pre-filled message. These messages can be sent directly to a brand’s customer service team or posted publicly on social media to push for change. Users can also personalize the default messages, ensuring specific complaints are included.
Yuka’s independent funding model means that the app’s health ratings are unbiased and focused solely on consumer wellbeing. The app can analyze the ingredients of any food or cosmetic product by just scanning its barcode. Users will then receive a health rating and are informed about any hazardous additives present. This transparency is what has made Yuka amass over 60 million users worldwide.
Yuka’s impact on the market has been notable. A 2024 study found that 94% of Yuka users have stopped purchasing products flagged with hazardous additives. The influence of Yuka’s users even led French supermarket chain Intermarché to reformulate 900 of its products, removing 142 controversial ingredients in response to customer pressure. Yuka’s success reveals how these tools can amplify consumer voices about the health effects of the products they buy.
“We are not just passive consumers; we can be true agents of change, and we have the right to demand that brands prioritize our health over their financial interests,” said Chapon. “This new feature empowers users to go beyond avoiding harmful ingredients and actively drive the change they want to see in the marketplace.”
Consumers have increasingly valued transparency in product information. A study by the Food Industry Association (FMI) and NielsenIQ found that 72% of participants prioritize transparent product information and labeling when choosing which food brands to support. This explains how Yuka was able to expand to over 16 million in the U.S. alone following its successful introduction in Europe.
The call-out feature is expected to expand beyond France and the U.S. in the coming months. The feature is also free and accessible to anyone interested without a premium subscription.
By offering an easy way for users to contact brands directly, Yuka is helping bridge the gap between consumer demands and corporate practices. The app’s approach could redefine consumer-brand dynamics. With technology like Yuka, everyday shoppers are no longer limited to avoiding problematic products; they can now play an active role in driving industry-wide change.
