Blog
Food & nutrition, written honestly
Why we built it the way we did — methodology notes, infrastructure choices, and the mission. New pieces every few weeks.
July 10, 2026
Is aspartame (E951) bad for you? What the safety data actually says
Aspartame is one of the most-studied ingredients on the planet — and one of the most argued-about. Here's what EFSA, JECFA and the IARC actually concluded, what the numbers mean, and how to see it on your own labels.
July 8, 2026
Nutri-Score, NOVA and environmental impact: what each food score really tells you
One score can't answer every question about a food. Here's what Nutri-Score, NOVA and an environmental score each measure — and why you need all three to judge a product honestly.
July 6, 2026
How to choose a food scanning app: 6 things that actually matter
Food scanner apps are not created equal. Before you trust one to score your groceries, here are the six questions that separate a genuinely useful tool from a data-harvesting one.
July 4, 2026
'No added sugar', 'natural', 'high in protein': what EU food claims really mean
Some claims on food packaging are legally defined and audited. Others are pure marketing. Here's how to tell which is which under EU law — and where the wiggle room hides.
July 2, 2026
Is MSG (E621) bad for you? What the science says about monosodium glutamate
MSG has one of the worst reputations of any food ingredient — most of it built on a single 1968 letter, not evidence. Here's what EFSA and controlled studies actually found about E621.
June 30, 2026
Sodium nitrite (E250) in processed meat: what the health data actually says
The curing salt behind ham, bacon and salami does a real job — and carries a real, well-documented concern. Here's what EFSA and the IARC concluded about E250 and processed meat.
June 28, 2026
Tartrazine (E102): the yellow food dye that carries a warning label
Tartrazine is the bright-yellow dye in sweets, drinks and sauces — and one of six colours that must carry a specific warning on EU labels. Here's what that warning means and what EFSA concluded.
June 26, 2026
Switching to Forkin from another food or calorie app: what carries over
Moving from MyFitnessPal, Cronometer, Lifesum or an AI calorie app? Here's what stays the same, what's new, and how to get set up in a couple of minutes — no habits lost.
May 27, 2026
Our mission: food intelligence as a public good
Forkin exists because the food system is the largest single lever on human and planetary health — and the information people need to make good food choices shouldn't be locked behind ads, paywalls, or fine print.
May 27, 2026
Why we choose lower-carbon European infrastructure — and what 'green hosting' actually means
The internet runs on electricity. Most of that electricity is still fossil-fueled. Here's why Forkin selects core providers with renewable contracts or low-carbon grids, what 'green hosting' really means, and how we publish a carbon ledger against a stated baseline — without claiming to be carbon-neutral.
May 27, 2026
Why Forkin keeps core food data on European infrastructure
Many food and nutrition apps rely on US-headquartered infrastructure. Forkin keeps core app data on European infrastructure and publishes the processor list so you can inspect the trade-offs.