A journey into better food labeling.

The food we buy matters.

As our food systems become increasingly complex, the food we choose to consume affects not only our own health, but also the environment, our ethical framework, the Earth's biodiversity, and so much more.
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But much of the data of our food purchases remains hidden to us as end consumers. Food labels only give us a basic snapshot. And pushes for better labeling are met by slow-moving governments and companies resistant to change.

Data Overview

Over 10 weeks, I visited a grocery store 18 different times:

290

Total products purchased

$842

Total dollars spent

$47

Avg dollars spent per store visit

16

Avg products purchased per store visit

Buying Habits

GMOs + Organics

Contain GMOs

Are Organic

Stores

most poular visited

Large chain 8 visits

Corner bodega 10 visits

The products traveled all over the world to get to me.

173

Products had location info

173

Products had no location info

40%

of total products had no location info

Over 10 weeks, I consumed 3,548 unique ingredients.

Here they are, some sorted by their popularity:

145

Salt

72

Sunflower Oil

62

Spices

43

Red Delicious Apple

38

Garlic

36

Eggs

31

Turmeric

26

Cranberries

25

Almonds

24

Shallots

22

Palm Oil

21

Cultures

21

Carrot

20

Black Pepper Extract

20

Elderberry Juice Concentrate

19

Butter

18

Salmon

18

Whole Wheat Flour

1

Cellulose Gum and Gel

1

Crystalline Fructose

1

Calcium Sodium Caseinate

122

Water

69

Canola Oil

61

Xantham Gum

40

Cherry Tomatoes

37

Onion Powder

36

Spinach

28

Rice

26

Carrots

25

Black Pepper

23

Wheat Flour

22

Milk

21

Organic Carrots

20

Durum Wheat Semolina

20

Zucchini

20

Modified Starch

18

Non-Fat Milk

18

Chervil

18

Folic Acid

1

Natural and Artificial Flavors

1

Alkalized Cocoa Powder

1

Vitamin A Palmitate

91

Sugar

68

Citric Acid

43

Sea Salt

39

Lemon Juice

36

White Wine

33

Cream

26

Soybeans

25

Mint

24

Soybean Oil

22

Expeller Pressed Canola Oil

22

Ascorbic Acid

21

Edamame

20

Apple Cider Vinegar

20

Onions

19

Corn Starch

18

Distilled Vinegar

18

Orzo Pasta

18

Yogurt

1

Dipotassium Phosphate

1

Milk Protein Isolate

Awards

Over the 10 weeks, I purchased all sorts of groceries. I crunched the numbers, and gave out
awards for the best of the best, and the worst of the worst.

The Good

Best Price-To-Nutrient Ratio

Cut and Peeled Carrots

Healthiest Overall

Organic Carrots

Most Popular Product

Red Delicious Apple

The Not-So-Good

Unhealthiest Overall

Unhealthiest Overall

Most Caloric Product

Crunchy Salted Peanut Butter

Fattiest Product

Butter

Most Popular Ingredient

Salt

Saltiest Product

Stacy's Pita Chips

Sugariest Product

Nuts About Raspberries & Chocolate Trek Mix

I carefully tracked all my own grocery purchases with hopes of coming up with a better way to make sense of it all. Where does my food come from? What are my healthiest and unhealthiest choices? Which foods have GMOs? I created a dashboard that shows me all of this information and more.

It's my dream label.

My Dream Label

Select a week to see its data

Week 1

Feb-22 to Feb-28

Week 2

Mar-1 to Mar-7

Week 3

Mar-8 to Mar-14

Week 4

Mar-15 to Mar-21

Week 5

Mar-22 to Mar-28

Week 6

Mar-29 to Apr-4

Week 7

Apr-5 to Apr-11

Week 8

Apr-12 to Apr-18

Week 9

Apr-19 to Apr-25

Week 10

Apr-26 to May-3

$32

Spent

11

Products Purchased

3

Unique Locations

8945

Farthest Mileage traveled

179

Unique ingredients

16

Ingredients/ Product

8

With No Location

2 Stores

45%

0%

Products Purchased in Week 1

Click on a product to see its details

Frozen Meals

Spinach Mushroom & Cheese Quiche,
Spicy Thai Shrimp Fried Rice,

Veggies

Edamame,
Cut and Peeled Carrots,

Canned Food

Cuban Style Black Beans,
Cuban Style Black Beans,

Staple

No staples this week.

Prepared Meals

Mozzarella & Tomato Salad,
Shrimp Spring Rolls,

Fruits

No fruits this week.

Snacks

No snacks this week.

Beverages

Muscle Milk,
Diet Coke,

Tips for Week 1

The Good

Cut and Peeled Carrots are one of the best low-cost sources of nutrients!

The Bad

No fruit is no good. Make sure to get some soon. An apple a day..

For Next Week

Looks like you may need to stock up on some staple items.

$125

Spent

40

Products Purchased

20

Unique Locations

8945

Farthest Mileage traveled

504

Unique ingredients

13

Ingredients/ Product

20

With No Location

2 Stores

40%

13%

Products Purchased in Week 2

Click on a product to see its details

Frozen Meals

Vegetable Biryani with Vegetable Dumplings,
Fusilli with Vegetables,
Palak Paneer,
Wild Salmon with Orzo Pasta, Spinach & Zucchini,
Vegetarian Pizza,

Veggies

Cut and Peeled Carrots,
Avocado,
Green Giant Baby Cut Carrots,
Edamame,
Avocado,

Canned Food

Cuban Style Black Beans,
Cuban Style Black Beans,
Lentil Soup - Amy's Organic Soups,
Lentil Soup - Amy's Organic Soups,

Cheese

Stacy's Pita Chips,
White Sharp Cheddar,
New Zealand Sharp Cheddar Cheese,

Beverages

Organic Fair Trade Wake Up Blend Coffee,
Whole Milk,

Prepared Meals

Roasted Butternut Squash, Red Quinoa and
Wheatberry Salad,
Super Spinach Salad,
Super Spinach Salad,
Kale & Edamame Salad,

Fruits

Red Delicious Apple,
Red Delicious Apple,
Red Delicious Apple,
Red Delicious Apple,
Red Delicious Apple,

Snacks

Wild Salmon Jerky,
Crunchy Curls Lentil & Potato Snack,
Nuts About Raspberries & Chocolate Trek Mix,
Kashi Oatmeal Raisin Flax Cookies,

Staple

Jasmine Rice,
Butter,
Crunchy Salted Peanut Butter,
Cage Free Eggs,

Awards for Week 2

Best Price-To-Nutrient Ratio

Cut and Peeled Carrots

Healthiest Overall

Green Giant Baby Cut Carrots

Most Popular Product

Red Delicious Apple

Tips for Week 2

The Good

Cut and Peeled Carrots are one of the best low-cost sources of nutrients!

The Bad

No fruit is no good. Make sure to get some soon. An apple a day..

For Next Week

Looks like you may need to stock up on some staple items.