When you scan a barcode in VertigoMe, the app looks it up in Open Food Facts, a public food database. It has millions of products, but not every one. If a scan is not working, start with the simple things.
The steps are the same on iPhone and Android. Food logging is part of Premium.
Where the scanner lives
- Open the Log tab and tap Food. You can also open the Monitor tab and tap the Diet card.
- In the Add Food card there is a Search foods box with two buttons next to it. The barcode button opens the scanner. The camera button is for photographing a meal.
Step 1: Hold steady in good light
- Hold the phone about a hand's width from the barcode.
- Make sure the room is bright.
- Keep the phone still for a couple of seconds. The scanner closes by itself when it reads the code.
On a curved packet, such as a tin or bottle, flatten the label a little with your fingers.
Step 2: Allow the camera
The scanner needs camera access. If it says "Camera permission is required to scan barcodes":
- iPhone: open Settings, find VertigoMe, and switch on Camera.
- Android: open Settings, tap Apps, then VertigoMe, then Permissions, and allow Camera.
Step 3: Clean the camera lens
A fingerprint or smudge on the lens can make every scan fail. Wipe it gently with a soft cloth and try again.
Step 4: Check the code type
VertigoMe reads the standard striped barcodes on shop products. It does not read square QR codes. If the packet only has a QR code, add the food by name instead (Step 6).
Step 5: Cut the glare
Barcodes on shiny foil or printed in pale ink can be hard to read. Tilt the packet a little and move away from a bright light directly overhead.
Step 6: Add the food by name
If the scan says the barcode is not in Open Food Facts, or the product has no barcode:
- Tap the Search foods box in the Add Food card.
- Type a plain name, such as "cheddar cheese" or "oat biscuits". The search uses the USDA food database, so plain food names work better than brand names.
- Tap the closest match and add it.
You can also tap the camera button and photograph your meal. VertigoMe suggests the foods it sees, and you can correct them before adding.
Step 7: Test with a common product
Scan something common from your cupboard, like a well-known tin or bottle. If that works, the scanner is fine and the first product is just missing from the database.
Step 8: Restart the app and the phone
Close VertigoMe and open it again. If the camera still does not work, restart your phone.
A note on the food database
Open Food Facts is built by volunteers. Big brands are nearly always there. Small local brands and very new products may not be yet. When a product is missing, searching by name is the right move.
If none of these work
Write to us at [email protected] with:
- Your phone make and model
- The product and its barcode number (the digits under the stripes)
- What happens when you scan
- A photo of the packet if you can
