FOOD COMPARISON APP
Comparing food products :
what actually matters.
Nutri-Score, ingredients, additives, price per kilo: learn how to compare two food products effectively, and let Vutro's food comparison app automate it on every scan — free, no account required.
← Back to homeWhat to compare between two food products
Comparing two food products isn't just about the sticker price on the shelf. Four things are worth checking: nutritional composition (Nutri-Score, calories, sugar, salt), the ingredient list and its order — ingredients are listed by decreasing weight —, any additives present, and the price expressed in a comparable unit, per kilo or liter rather than per package.
In practice, few people actually compare two products on the shelf: it means pulling out your phone, looking up each item, and doing the math yourself. That gap between the theory of food comparison and applying it day to day is exactly what an automated comparison tool is meant to close.
The price-per-kilo trap
Two similar products don't always come in the same size: a smaller pack at a lower price isn't necessarily cheaper than a larger pack at a higher price. The price per kilo, usually printed in small text on the shelf price tag, is the only measure that allows a fair comparison. It's also the measure most often ignored, because it requires quick mental math that few people do in the moment.
Official Nutri-Score or a proprietary score?
Some food comparison apps calculate their own internal score, sometimes different from the official Nutri-Score, by weighting certain criteria differently. That can be confusing if two apps show contradictory results for the same product. Vutro displays Nutri-Score exactly as calculated by Open Food Facts using the official method, without recalculating it with its own weighting — which keeps it consistent with what you'd see on the package if the manufacturer displayed it.
How Vutro automates the comparison
Rather than comparing two packages on the shelf, Vutro scans the product you're holding and directly looks for a store-brand alternative with an equal or better Nutri-Score, cheaper per unit price. You can also check out our page on grocery savings or learn how a food barcode scanner works to understand the full process.
Frequently asked questions
What should you compare between two food products?
Nutri-Score, the ingredient list in decreasing order of weight, any additives present, and the price per kilo or liter rather than per package.
Is Nutri-Score enough to compare two products?
No, it should be complemented by the NOVA score (degree of processing) and a look at the ingredients, especially for allergies or specific intolerances.
How do you compare the price of two differently sized products?
By using the price per kilo or liter rather than the sticker price on the package — it's the only unit that allows a fair comparison between two different pack sizes.
Can Vutro compare any food product?
Vutro compares products listed in Open Food Facts against store brands available in major French supermarkets. A very recent product or a niche brand may not yet have a listed alternative, in which case Vutro simply shows the product's own information without a suggested swap.