What is NeBu? — Turkey's Open Barcode-Score App

In short

NeBu (the answer to "what is this?" when you pick up a product) is a label-reading tool built by the MC Co. team. Its scoring formula is based on primary sources such as EFSA, WHO and the Turkish Food Codex; the code is open on GitHub for anyone to inspect.

How does it work?

1. 1. Scan the barcode

   Tap "Scan" in your browser; your phone's camera reads the product barcode. No data is uploaded to our servers; the scan happens fully on your device.

2. 2. We fetch the product info

   We query the Open Food Facts open database anonymously: product name, brand, ingredients, nutrition, additives. We're also actively expanding the Turkish product database ourselves.

3. 3. See the score + reasons

   Nutri-Score-based nutrition points + NOVA processing group + additive risk profile combine. We transparently show every line of the score — "why 65/100?" gets a visible answer.

How is it different from Yuka?

Yuka is a similar French app; it did a great job globally. NeBu differentiates itself for Turkey in a few important ways:

• Turkish + TR product data first-class

  NeBu started in Turkish — it wasn't bolted on later. We prioritise Turkish brands and TR-market-specific products: regional items, Turkish Food Codex references, halal certification and origin info on-page.

• Halal + origin focused

  Halal certification presence + country of origin info are prominent on the product card. Yuka optimises these dimensions for European consumers, so they're invisible in Turkey.

• Open source + $0

  Code is open on GitHub under MIT; anyone can review what feeds the algorithm. Free core scanning; minimum recurring cost as a goal (free-tier first, premium later).

• Honest science — no "banned" stamp

  We don't fall into Yuka's criticised "additive presence = danger" framing. We use the EFSA ADI framework and dose/context; instead of flagging MSG as "dangerous", we say what the science actually says.

Example scores

Three example score profiles NeBu produces from real products (approximate; actual scores depend on formulation and data quality):

• Plain oats — high fibre, no added sugar, single ingredient → 85/100 (A)
• Half-fat milk — good protein, moderate saturated fat, no additives → 70/100 (B)
• Chocolate-coated coloured kids' cereal — high sugar, Southampton-Six colourants, palm oil → 25/100 (D)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is NeBu?

NeBu is an open-source Turkey-focused app that lets you scan a barcode and see a product's nutrition + additives + health score. Web side via ne-bu.net; mobile via App Store + Google Play (soon).

How does NeBu work?

You tap "Scan" in your browser, your device's camera reads the barcode, we anonymously fetch the product info from Open Food Facts, and we show a 0–100 score with a detailed breakdown using an EFSA/WHO/TGK-referenced scoring formula.

Is NeBu safe? Where does my data go?

Scanning happens entirely in your browser — your photo never leaves your device. The barcode query goes to Open Food Facts as an anonymous GET request; we don't ask for an account, email or password. No ad cookies, no behavioural tracking.

Is NeBu free?

Yes — core scanning + scoring is always free. We have an optional premium layer planned for the future (advanced allergen filters, offline use), but scanning and seeing the score will always be free — similar to Yuka's model.

Is NeBu different from Yuka?

Yes — NeBu is Turkish-first, prioritises the TR product database, surfaces halal/origin info on the product card, is open-source, and avoids the "additive presence = danger" labelling mistake. Yuka is a good product but leaves gaps for the Turkish market; we close those gaps.