What it is
The EWG Healthy Living app (by the Environmental Working Group) lets users scan product barcodes to see health and environmental ratings. The database covers over 120,000 food products and 80,000 personal care products. Each product receives a score from 1 (best) to 10 (worst) based on ingredient analysis: toxicity data, regulatory status, and contamination concerns. The app also includes EWG's Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen produce pesticide guides.
Why we picked this
Product labels are designed to sell, not to inform. 'Natural,' 'green,' and 'eco-friendly' are unregulated marketing terms. EWG's database cuts through this by evaluating actual ingredients against toxicology data, regulatory databases, and contamination records. Scanning a product takes 2 seconds and instantly reveals whether the ingredient list contains endocrine disruptors, carcinogens, or environmental persistent pollutants. For households trying to reduce their chemical exposure and environmental impact, this app is the single most efficient tool available.
Key takeaways
- The database covers over 200,000 food and personal care products, rated on a 1 to 10 scale using toxicology data, regulatory status, and contamination records.
- EWG's Skin Deep database, integrated into the app, identifies endocrine-disrupting chemicals in personal care products that are legal in the US but banned in the EU.
- The Clean Fifteen and Dirty Dozen produce guides help shoppers prioritize organic purchases where pesticide residues are highest, optimizing budget and health impact.