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Microplastics scanner app

Scan any product for microplastic risk in 5 seconds

Tap the barcode. Snap the packaging. Get a 0–100 score backed by published research, plus a safer swap if the score is high. Works on food, drinks, cosmetics, cookware, baby gear, and household products.

Download on iOSHow it works →

5.0 on the App Store3 free scans, no account required

MicroPlastics scanner app. Today screen with exposure gauge and daily quest

Quick answer

MicroPlastics is the only consumer barcode scanner app built specifically for microplastic and plasticiser risk. Other product-scanner apps (Yuka, Think Dirty, EWG Healthy Living) score for general additives or cosmetic safety, but none weigh packaging material, container condition, and microplastic-related chemicals (BPA, BPS, PFAS, phthalates) the way this one does. Scan a barcode and a packaging photo, get a 0–100 risk score with the cited research, and a safer alternative if the score is high. Free to start on iOS with 3 scans.

The comparison

How MicroPlastics compares to other scanner apps

Yuka, Think Dirty, and EWG Healthy Living are excellent for what they were built for. Here is what each one actually evaluates, and why MicroPlastics is the right tool for the plastics question.

Microplastics scanner app comparison: MicroPlastics vs Yuka vs Think Dirty vs EWG Healthy Living
AppBuilt forMicroplastic scoringPackaging analysisBPA / PFAS / phthalates
MicroPlasticsMicroplastic + plasticiser risk across food, drink, cosmetics, household Yes: 0–100 score with cited research Yes: photo-based condition scoring Flagged as chemicals of concern
YukaNutrition + additive safety for food & cosmeticsNo: does not score plasticsNo: barcode onlyPartial: only chemicals in the ingredient list
Think DirtyCosmetic ingredient safetyNo: flags polymers only as a single ingredientNoYes: ingredient-list focus
EWG Healthy LivingEWG database lookup for food + personal careNo: not scored separatelyNoYes: EWG database flagging

All four apps are barcode-driven. Only MicroPlastics also uses a packaging photo, which is where most microplastic risk variation lives across copies of the same product.

How it works

Three steps. Five seconds per product.

  1. Scan the barcode

    Point your camera at any product barcode. The app pulls the brand, category, and declared packaging from the catalog instantly.

  2. Snap the packaging

    Take a quick photo of the actual container. The scoring model evaluates scratches, dents, fade, cap style, and condition, things barcode-only apps can't see.

  3. Get a 0–100 score

    See the risk score, the published studies that informed it, and a safer alternative if the product scores high. Save to your log to track exposure over time.

The photo matters

Why barcode-only apps miss half the story

Most food-rating apps just read the barcode and look up ingredients. For microplastics, the package is where most of the risk lives, and a barcode can't see condition.

Two bottles of the same brand water, one stored in a cool dark warehouse and one in a hot sunlit pallet, deliver very different particle loads when you open them. Two non-stick skillets, one new and one scratched after three years, are not the same risk.

The MicroPlastics app uses both the barcode and a photo. The barcode pulls brand, category, and packaging spec from the catalog. The photo lets the scoring model see scratches, dents, fade, cap style, and physical condition. Together they produce a 0–100 risk score with the cited published research available inside each scan.

Inside the app

What it looks like

Clean, fast, no ads. The score on every product is a number plus the reasoning behind it.

Today, exposure gauge, rooms, and daily quest
Today
Scan log, every product scored and saved
Scan log
Reports, exposure trends and comparisons
Reports
Plastic Passport, stamps for every discovery
Passport

Coverage

What you can scan

Anything with a barcode, and plenty without one. The camera has five modes (Auto, Barcode, Label, Ingredients, Material), you can type a product name when there is nothing to photograph, and the scoring model adapts to the category.

  • Bottled water & drinks

    PET vs glass vs aluminum; brand, condition, storage history.

  • Packaged food

    Canned, jarred, plastic-tubbed, frozen: material + heat history.

  • Coffee & tea

    Cups, K-cups, tea bags: flag plastic-lined and nylon mesh.

  • Cosmetics & skincare

    Ingredient-list parser for polyethylene, acrylates, PEG, fragrance.

  • Cookware & utensils

    PTFE non-stick, black plastic, ceramic, stainless, cast iron.

  • Baby & kids products

    Bottles, sippy cups, pouches, baby food, diapers.

  • Food storage

    Tupperware, deli containers, plastic wrap, Ziploc, glass.

  • Personal care

    Toothpaste, dental floss, deodorant, body wash, shampoo.

5.0 on the App Store

What people are saying

Real reviews from people using the app to make 5-second decisions at the shelf.

Simple & Powerful

“This app is honestly incredible. I had no idea how much microplastic exposure could be hiding in everyday food until I started using it. The scanner is super easy to use, fast, and makes checking products feel effortless. It's made me way more aware of what I'm buying and eating, and I genuinely feel like I'm making healthier choices because of it.”
Tayyib A · Apr 9 · App Store review

Makes me feel way better about what I eat

“I kept seeing stuff about microplastics in food and had no idea what was safe anymore. This app lets you scan anything and it breaks it down for you instantly. I check everything now before I buy it. Honestly didn't think an app like this existed yet.”
abs_ak · Apr 13 · App Store review

Convenient App

“This app is clutch to have if you are concerned about having control over your health outcomes. One of my favorite alkaline waters was in the high range and will effect my choice to buy it again. This is a strong app: no glitches, and no incorrect data.”
Nette2022 · Apr 20 · App Store review

I NEVER Knew!!!

“I had NO idea that our food and water contained so many harmful chemicals! Using this app has been an eye opener! I was plenty surprised that my Smucker’s Strawberry Preserve, in a glass jar, safely made the cut! I highly recommend!”
Nurse & Foodie · Apr 22 · App Store review

The evidence

Backed by peer-reviewed research

Every score is tied to published studies you can read yourself. No opaque AI claims, no wellness-influencer math.

  • Qian et al. 2024 (PNAS)

    Bottled water averages ~240,000 plastic particles per liter, ~90% nanoplastics.

  • Marfella et al. 2024 (NEJM)

    Microplastics in carotid plaque linked to 4.53× higher risk of heart attack or stroke.

  • Garcia et al. 2024 (Toxicological Sciences)

    Microplastics detected in 100% of human placentas tested.

  • Li et al. 2020 (Nature Food)

    ~1.6 million microplastic particles per day from polypropylene baby bottles in formula context.

  • Hussain et al. 2023 (Environ. Sci. & Tech.)

    Microwaving plastic containers releases up to 4.22M particles per cm² in 3 minutes.

  • Yadav et al. 2023 (Environ. Sci. & Tech.)

    Plastic cutting boards shed up to 50g of microplastic per person per year into food.

Pricing

Start free

Three free scans to test the app on your own pantry. Premium when you're ready.

Free

$0

3 scans included

  • Barcode + photo scanning
  • 0–100 risk score with cited research
  • Safer alternative suggestions

Premium annual

$49.99/yr

About $4.17/month, billed annually

  • Unlimited scans
  • Personal exposure tracking
  • Saved product history
  • Plasticiser flags (BPA, BPS, PFAS, phthalates)

Premium monthly

$7.99/mo

Cancel anytime

  • Unlimited scans
  • All premium features
  • Best for short-term use

3-day free trial on Premium. Subscriptions auto-renew and are billed to your Apple ID; cancel anytime in App Store settings.

Common questions about the MicroPlastics scanner

Is there an app that scans products for microplastics?

Yes. MicroPlastics is the consumer scanner app built for microplastic and plasticiser risk. Scan a barcode and a packaging photo and the app returns a 0-100 risk score with the cited published research behind it. Free to start on iOS with 3 scans.

How is the MicroPlastics app different from Yuka?

Yuka scores food and cosmetics for general nutrition and additive safety using barcode-only ingredient lookups. MicroPlastics scores specifically for microplastic and plasticiser risk (BPA, BPS, PFAS, phthalates) and uses both the barcode AND a photo of the actual packaging condition, which is where most of the risk variation lives between two copies of the same product.

Does the app actually detect microplastics in the product?

The app does not run a lab measurement on your specific item, that would require an electron microscope. It produces a research-based 0-100 relative risk score by combining declared packaging (from the barcode), physical condition (from your photo), brand, category, and the cited published research for each. Best used to compare two products on a shelf or flag high-risk items in your routine.

Is the MicroPlastics app free?

Yes. The app is free to download and includes 3 free scans to try it. Unlimited scanning is included in Premium ($7.99/month or $49.99/year). No credit card required to start.

What products can I scan with the MicroPlastics app?

Anything with a barcode, food, drinks, cosmetics, cookware, baby gear, household products, supplements, and personal care. The scoring model adapts to the category. Cosmetics scans also parse the ingredient list for microplastic polymers (polyethylene, acrylates copolymer, carbomer, PEG, dimethicone, polyurethane).

How does the photo-based packaging analysis work?

After scanning the barcode, you take a quick photo of the actual container. The scoring model evaluates scratches, dents, fade, cap style, and overall condition, all factors that influence how much plastic the package sheds into the product. Barcode-only apps cannot see any of this.

Is the MicroPlastics app available on Android?

Not yet. iOS only at the moment. Android is on the roadmap.

How accurate is the 0-100 risk score?

The score is a relative risk indicator backed by peer-reviewed research, not a precise lab measurement. It is most useful for two purposes: comparing two products on a shelf (e.g., glass-jarred vs plastic-tubbed yogurt), or flagging high-risk items already in your routine. Every score includes the studies that informed it.

Can I cancel a Premium subscription?

Yes, anytime through your iOS subscription settings. Monthly billing stops at the end of the current period. Annual billing stops at the end of the current year. Cancelling does not delete your scan history.

What does the app include besides the scanner?

A scan-aware AI Exposure Coach that answers questions with cited sources, Shopping Mode (scan your cart in-store and get one aggregate exposure report), guided room-by-room audits, a 7-day lower-exposure plan, a browsable library of roughly 236 lab-tested products from the PlasticList dataset, a materials watchlist, friend challenges, and a nearby map of refill and lower-plastic stores.

Does the app work offline?

The first scan needs an internet connection to look up the product. Once scanned, the result is saved to your device and viewable offline.

Build your exposure baseline this week.

Start with 3 free scans of the products you use most: water, coffee, cookware, food storage, cosmetics. See the score, see the research, see the swap.

Download on iOS

Free · 3 scans included · No credit card required

Related reading: how to check products before you buy, bottled water microplastics, 25 highest-risk foods, 30 kitchen swaps.