The George Institute for Global Health and Bupa have developed a new smartphone app, which enables customers to identify the salt levels in a food product, allowing them to make healthier food choices.
The app, which is available for consumers in Australia, can be installed in iOS or Android smartphones.
The app allows customers to scan the barcode and receive information about the salt levels in a product. It displays information in an easy-to-understand traffic light format. Red light indicates that the product has high salt content; amber light indicates medium salt; and green light indicates low salt. The app also displays the levels of fat and sugar in the product.
In addition, the app also presents a list of healthier alternatives to the consumers.
Bupa Clinical Advisory head Stan Goldstein said that providing a simple, free tool shoppers can have handy on their phones has the potential to make a big difference to purchasing habits.
"While we should all try and lower our salt intake, this app will be particularly beneficial for people diagnosed with high blood pressure who are trying to follow doctors' orders to eat a low salt diet," Goldstein added.
The SaltSwitch app is available for download at the iTunes store or the Google Play store. It is a new feature of the existing shopping app FoodSwitch.
