Why did my barcode scan not return a product?

Occasionally you may scan a barcode that is not currently in the Fussy Vegan database. This simply means the product has not yet been reviewed by our verification team.

When this happens, don’t worry — your scan is still useful.

Every barcode scanned in the app is automatically recorded by our system. If a barcode is scanned that is not already in the database, the scan is logged so that our verification team can review it and attempt to identify the product.

If the product can be verified, it will be added to the database so that future scans will return a result.

Why were manual product verification requests removed?

In previous versions of the app, users could submit manual product verification requests. While this helped identify new products, the process required significant time and resources from our verification team to review and manage each individual request.

As the app grew, the number of requests increased substantially, making it difficult for the team to keep up and slowing down the addition of new products to the app database.

To solve this, we introduced the automatic barcode scan recording system.

Now, when a product is scanned that is not already in the database, the barcode is automatically logged. This allows our verification team to see which products users are scanning and prioritise them for review.

This system reduces the time spent managing individual requests and allows the team to focus on verifying and adding more products to the database.

VIP Access Subscriber product verification requests

VIP Access subscribers can still request product verification through the Live Chat feature in the app. This allows our team to prioritise the request and review the product more quickly.

What information is recorded when a barcode is scanned?

When a barcode that is not currently in the database is scanned, the barcode number is automatically recorded along with the date and time of the scan. This helps our verification team identify which products users are scanning so they can prioritise them for review.

No personal user information is recorded as part of this process. The system only logs the barcode number and the time the scan occurred.

Helping improve the database

Every scan helps improve the Fussy Vegan database. By scanning products — even ones that are not yet recognised — you are helping our verification team identify which products should be reviewed and added to the database next.

How long does it take for a product to be added?

Recording a barcode scan does not guarantee that a product will be added immediately. Each product must still be located and its ingredients carefully reviewed before a vegan status can be determined.

Our verification team reviews logged barcodes and prioritises products that are scanned frequently by users. Because of this, some products may take longer to appear in the database than others.