Food intelligence for teams and families.
Research, guides, and product breakdowns from the MetricPoint team.
Best Employee Wellness Benefits for Small Businesses
Practical, low-overhead wellness benefits small businesses can offer to compete for talent without an enterprise budget.
Digital Wellness Benefits Employees Actually Use
Most wellness apps sit unused. Here's how to pick digital wellness benefits with genuine engagement and daily utility.
Employee Benefits for Working Parents
The benefits that actually move the needle for working parents — reducing cognitive load, supporting return-to-work, and lowering attrition.
Inclusive Benefits for Muslim Employees
A practical guide to benefits and workplace design choices that make Muslim employees feel genuinely supported.
Food Allergy Benefits in the Workplace
How employers can support employees with food allergies through both policy and practical, everyday tools.
How Wellness Benefits Improve Employee Retention
The mechanisms by which meaningful wellness benefits reduce voluntary turnover — and how to measure the impact.
Modern Employee Benefits Beyond Health Insurance
Categories of benefits that increasingly define competitive offers — from wellness stipends to digital family support.
Wellness Stipends vs Traditional Benefits
When to choose a flexible wellness stipend, when to choose structured benefits, and how to combine both for maximum impact.
Benefits That Help Recruit Gen Z Employees
What Gen Z candidates actually look for in a benefits package — beyond the perks other generations were marketed.
How to Build an Employee Wellness Program
A step-by-step framework for building a wellness program employees actually engage with — from needs assessment to measurement.
What Are Seed Oils? Non-Seed Oil Alternatives and Seed-Oil-Free Foods
What counts as a seed oil, non-seed oils and seed oil alternatives to cook with (with smoke points), what the debate is about, and seed-oil-free foods.
The Complete List of Seed Oils to Avoid (and What to Use Instead)
The full list of seed oils to avoid, where they hide, how to spot them on labels, and seed oil alternatives (non-seed oils) worth reaching for instead.
Foods to Avoid With IBS: How to Spot Common Triggers on Food Labels
The foods most commonly reported as IBS triggers, why they may cause symptoms, and how to spot them on an ingredient label while you shop.
What Does “Halal-Certified” Actually Mean? A Complete Guide
Halal versus halal-certified, what certification bodies check, how to read a halal-certified symbol, and how to verify certification when you're unsure.
The Complete Guide to Baby Food and Product Safety
A starting point for the two questions every parent asks: what's actually in the food you feed your baby, and what's in the products around your baby every day.
Baby Cereal: When to Start, Which Grain to Choose, and How to Read the Label
A plain-language guide to infant cereal — when babies can start, why iron-fortified matters, how rice cereal compares with oatmeal and multigrain, the arsenic question, and what to check on the box.
How to Check if Your Baby Food or Formula Has Been Recalled
Where baby food and formula recalls are posted, how to match a lot code and best-by date to a recall notice, what Class I, II and III mean, and how to get alerts.
6 Month Old Eating Plan: A Simple First-Month Schedule for Solids
A realistic day-by-day plan for starting solids at 6 months — how much milk still matters, how many meals to offer, which first foods to try, and how to introduce allergens safely.
How to Judge Baby Food Brands: What Actually Separates a Good Jar From a Bad One
A buyer's guide to baby food brands — the five things worth checking on any label, what organic and 'clean' claims really cover, how pouches compare with jars, and where heavy metals fit in.
Yogurt Melts and Baby Snacks: Which Ones Are Worth Buying
What yogurt melts, puffs, and teething wafers actually contain, when babies can have them, how they compare with real food, and how to spot the ones that are mostly sugar and starch.
Gripe Water vs Gas Drops: What's the Difference, and Which Should You Use?
Gripe water and simethicone gas drops are not the same thing. What each one actually contains, what the evidence says, and how to read the label before you buy.
Baby Wipes Ingredients to Avoid: What 'Chemical-Free' Really Means
Which baby wipe ingredients actually cause reactions — cocamidopropyl betaine, methylisothiazolinone, fragrance and sodium benzoate — and how water wipes compare.
Are Diapers Toxic? Pampers, Huggies and Honest Compared Honestly
What is actually in a disposable diaper, what the testing has and hasn't found, and how Pampers, Huggies and Honest differ on fragrance, lotion and certification.
Enfamil vs Similac: How the Formulas Actually Differ
A plain comparison of Enfamil and Similac — what NeuroPro, Gentlease, 360 Total Care and Advance contain, whether switching is safe, and what the differences mean.
Monash FODMAP App vs. MetricPoint Foodsage: Which Gut Health App Do You Need?
Monash FODMAP App vs MetricPoint Foodsage: how the two gut health tools differ, and why using both can make grocery shopping with IBS easier.
Foodsage vs. Yuka: Which Food Scanner Fits Food Sensitivities?
Yuka grades food for everyone. Foodsage checks ingredients against your conditions and sensitivities. How the two scanners differ, and who each fits.
Yuka Alternatives for Food Sensitivities: 7 Apps Compared
Looking for a Yuka alternative? Seven food scanner apps compared by what they check, who they fit and what they cost, with the limits of each.
Mealime Alternatives: Meal Planning Apps for Dietary Restrictions
Mealime shut down on October 21, 2026. Compare meal planning apps for allergies, AIP, gluten-free and family needs, and what to check first.
MyFitnessPal Alternatives: 5 Calorie Trackers Compared
Looking for a MyFitnessPal alternative? Its free plan has no barcode scanner. Compare Cronometer, MacroFactor, Lose It! and FatSecret on price and features.
Foodsage vs. Fig App: Which Food Scanner Fits Your Diet?
Foodsage vs Fig App compared: how each scanner builds your profile, what it flags, what it costs, and which is the stronger fit for checking inflammatory ingredients.
Green Tea Matcha Latte: Hidden Ingredients to Watch For and How to Make It Cleaner
What can hide in a cafe green tea matcha latte: added oils, gums and sugars. Plus how to read plant milk labels and make a cleaner version.
What Is a Food Intolerance Vs Allergy
The difference between a food allergy vs intolerance comes down to which system reacts. A food allergy is an immune system reaction to a food protein, and…
Hidden Sources of Gluten: Ingredients That Sneak onto Food Labels
Gluten is found naturally in wheat, barley, and rye, but it also turns up in packaged foods that look nothing like bread or pasta. Soy sauce, deli meat,…
Food additives to avoid: a guide to reading food labels
Food additives are substances added to food to preserve freshness, improve texture, boost flavor, or change color. Most are permitted for use in the…
How to Avoid Emulsifiers in Food
The easiest way to avoid or reduce emulsifiers in food is to read ingredient lists, choose more minimally processed foods, and compare similar products…
How to Choose an Ingredient Checker App (and What It Can't Do)
What ingredient checker apps do, how barcode and label scanning work, where they fall short, and 7 questions to ask before you pick one.
Top 10 Employee Wellness Apps for 2026 (Compared)
The 10 best employee wellness apps compared: mental health, fitness, nutrition, food intelligence, and financial wellness — with pricing models, strengths, and who each one is actually for.
Employee Wellness Ideas: 20 Practical Ideas HR Teams Can Run in 2026
20 employee wellness ideas for HR and benefits teams, including food support for employees managing chronic and autoimmune conditions, plus mental health, movement and inclusion.
Religious Accommodation in the Workplace: A Guide for Employers
What religious accommodation means under Title VII, how the 2023 Groff v. DeJoy undue-hardship standard works, and practical dietary and Ramadan examples.
When Can Babies Have Peanut Butter? A Safe, Evidence-Based Guide
When can babies have peanut butter? What NIAID guidelines say by risk group, how much to serve, how to prepare it safely, and signs of a reaction.
Heavy Metals in Baby Formula: What FDA Testing Found
What the FDA's testing of 312 infant formula samples found for lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury, what is still unsettled, and what parents can do now.
Talcum Powder vs Cornstarch for Babies: Is Either Safe?
Talcum powder vs cornstarch for babies: what the FDA and the AAP say, why inhaling powder is a concern, and what to use for diaper rash instead.
Cool Mist vs Warm Mist Humidifier for Babies: Which Is Safer?
Cool mist vs warm mist humidifier for babies: the burn risk of steam, what the EPA says about microbes and minerals, and how to clean and use either type safely.
Bottle Sterilizer vs Dishwasher: Which Do You Need to Clean Baby Bottles?
Bottle sterilizer vs dishwasher: what the CDC says about cleaning and sanitizing baby bottles, when sanitizing is needed, and how to boil, steam or use a dishwasher.
Ear Infection or Teething? How to Tell the Difference in a Baby
Ear infection or teething? The symptoms the NIDCD and NHS list, which signs overlap, why a doctor must confirm an ear infection, and when to get medical advice.
Hello Bello vs Millie Moon Diapers: What Each Brand Says About Its Diapers
Hello Bello vs Millie Moon diapers compared from each brand's own claims: fragrance, lotion, latex, materials and certifications, and what is not independently tested.
CeraVe vs Aveeno Baby Lotion: Ingredients, Claims and How to Choose
CeraVe vs Aveeno baby lotion compared: key ingredients, fragrance claims, what each brand says, and how to choose a moisturizer for a baby with dry or eczema-prone skin.
Lupus Diet: What the Evidence Says About Foods to Eat and Avoid
There is no official lupus diet. What lupus experts and research say about foods to limit, alfalfa, garlic, echinacea and the Mediterranean pattern.
AIP Diet: Foods, Phases and What the Evidence Shows
The AIP diet (autoimmune protocol) explained: the AIP diet food list, plan and phases, and what small studies in IBD and Hashimoto's show.
Hypothyroid Foods: What to Eat, Limit and Time Around Levothyroxine
There is no single hypothyroidism diet. What NIDDK and research say about iodine, soy, coffee, calcium and iron timing, cruciferous vegetables and gluten.
Celiac Diet for Beginners: What to Eat, Meal Ideas and Nutrient Gaps
New to celiac disease? What to eat, a simple week of gluten-free meals, nutrients to watch, and how to handle labels, your kitchen and eating out.
Calorie Counting Apps: How They Work and How to Choose One
How calorie counting apps estimate what you eat, why the numbers are only estimates, who should be careful, and what to look for before you pick one.
Food Diary Apps: What to Track and How to Pick One
A food and symptom diary can help you and your doctor spot patterns. What to log, how to keep it reliable, app options, and when to see a doctor.
Food Sensitivity Tests: What They Can and Can't Tell You
Most at-home food sensitivity tests measure IgG. Here is what allergy societies say about them, why a result can mislead, and what to do instead.
Diabetes: Foods and Drinks to Limit, per CDC, NIDDK and ADA
Foods to avoid with diabetes: what the CDC, NIDDK and ADA say to limit, how to spot hidden sugars on labels, and why there is no single banned-foods list.
IBS Flare-Up: What to Eat, What to Skip and What to Do First
What helps during an IBS flare-up, which foods and drinks people commonly ease off, how fiber and the low FODMAP diet fit in, and the warning signs to watch.
Nestlé Bear Brand Fortified Choco Milk Drink Ingredients: What Is in It?
Nestlé Bear Brand Fortified Choco Milk Drink ingredients: the listed ingredients, milk and soy allergens, sugars, emulsifiers and what to check on your pack.
Trident Watermelon Twist Gum Ingredients: Is It Gelatin-Free?
Trident Sugarfree Watermelon Twist gum ingredients: the listed ingredients, whether gelatin is listed, sugar alcohols, sweeteners, soy and Red 40, and what to check.
Parle-G Biscuits Ingredients: What Is in the Original Gluco Biscuit?
Parle-G Original biscuit ingredients: wheat, milk and soy, palm oil, invert syrup, emulsifiers and sodium metabisulphite, and what to check on your pack.
Kissan Fresh Tomato Ketchup Ingredients: What Is in the Bottle?
Kissan Fresh Tomato Ketchup ingredients: tomato paste, sugar, modified starch, xanthan gum, sodium benzoate, onion and garlic powder, and what to check on your pack.
Sunfeast Dark Fantasy Choco Fills Ingredients: What Is in the Biscuit?
Sunfeast Dark Fantasy Choco Fills ingredients: wheat, milk, soy, palm oil, hydrogenated oils, six colours and what the allergen statement says. Check your pack.
Best Gluten-Free Apps in 2026: Restaurants, Barcode Scanners and Label Checkers
Gluten-free apps do different jobs: finding restaurants, scanning barcodes, checking ingredients. What each type does and what no app can promise.
Best Low FODMAP Apps in 2026: Monash, FODMAP Friendly, Fig and Foodsage Compared
The best low FODMAP apps compared: Monash for lab-tested portions, FODMAP Friendly for certified products, Fig and Foodsage for label scanning. What each does.
Gluten-Free Scanner: How to Check a Food for Gluten With Your Phone
How a gluten-free scanner app works, what it can and cannot tell you, and a three-step check to use with it. Includes celiac cautions.
Anti-Inflammatory Diet: What to Eat, What to Avoid and What the Evidence Shows
Anti-inflammatory foods to eat and limit, how to read labels for inflammatory ingredients, and what research shows about gut inflammation and weight.
How to Reduce Belly Fat: What Works, What Doesn't and Where Inflammation Fits
How to lose belly fat: waist sizes that matter, why spot reduction fails, what the evidence says about food, activity and inflammation, and how to check labels.
Weight Loss Apps: How to Choose One That Fits and What to Watch For
Weight loss apps compared by type: calorie counters, nutrient trackers, adaptive coaches and ingredient checkers, with the evidence on pace, food quality and safe use.
Meal Tracking App: What to Track, Which Type to Choose and When It Helps
A meal tracking app can log food, calories, symptoms or ingredients. Learn the four types, what each is good for, and which fits an autoimmune or sensitive-gut routine.
Hyperthyroid Diet: What to Eat, What to Limit and What Diet Cannot Do
Hyperthyroid and Graves' disease diet: why food cannot treat an overactive thyroid, what NIDDK says about iodine, weight changes, supplements and labels.
Food Scanner for Hashimoto's and Celiac Disease: What to Check and What to Know
What a food scanner can and cannot do for Hashimoto's and celiac disease: gluten, iodine, hidden ingredients, testing before diet changes, and how Foodsage checks labels.
Anti-Inflammatory Diet Meal Plan: A 7-Day Sample Menu and Shopping List
A 7-day anti-inflammatory diet meal plan with a sample menu, shopping list, swaps for gluten, dairy and nuts, and what to check on packaged-food labels.
Anti-Inflammatory Diet Recipes: 10 Simple Recipes Built on Whole Foods
Ten simple anti-inflammatory diet recipes: oats, lentil soup, salmon, chickpea salad and more, with allergy swaps and a label check for packaged ingredients.
Anti-Inflammatory Diet for Arthritis: What the Evidence Shows
An anti-inflammatory diet for arthritis: what Harvard and the Arthritis Foundation say, how strong the Mediterranean-diet evidence is, and what not to expect from food.
How to Reduce Cortisol Belly Fat: What the Evidence Says and What Helps
Is cortisol belly fat real? What one study found, what true cortisol excess looks like, and the evidence-based steps that help reduce belly fat.
How to Use Apple Cider Vinegar to Reduce Belly Fat: Does It Work?
Does apple cider vinegar reduce belly fat? What the evidence shows, why a well-known 2024 trial was retracted, how people use it, and who should avoid it.
Non-Seed Oils: What to Cook With Instead, and What Works for Frying
Non-seed oils explained: which oils to cook with, which suit frying and high heat, what the saturated fat trade-offs are, and what mainstream guidance says.
Foods to Avoid With Ulcerative Colitis: What the Research Says and What to Track
Foods to avoid with ulcerative colitis: what NIDDK and gastroenterology guidance say, common flare-time limits, lactose and fat, and how to find your own triggers.
Foods to Avoid With Crohn's Disease: What the Research Says and What to Track
Foods to avoid with Crohn's disease: what NIDDK and gastroenterology guidance say, what changes with strictures, flare-time limits, and how to find your triggers.
Anti-Inflammatory Recipes From Around the World: A Global Flavors Guide
Anti-inflammatory recipes and global flavors: dishes from West Africa, the Mediterranean and South Asia, with swaps for nightshades, legumes, nuts and other allergens.
West African Leafy Greens: Ugwu, Jute Leaves, Uziza and Water Leaf Explained
Ugwu, jute leaves (ewedu), uziza and water leaf: what each is, how it is cooked, what the evidence says, and cautions for warfarin, kidney stones and allergies.
Hibiscus Tea (Zobo, Sorrel): Benefits, Blood Pressure Evidence and Who Should Avoid It
Hibiscus tea benefits: what 17 trials show about blood pressure, how much evidence there is, drug interactions, pregnancy cautions and how to make it.
Fonio: What It Is, Whether It Is Gluten-Free and How to Cook It
Fonio is a small West African grain. What it is, why it is naturally gluten-free, how its nutrition compares, how to cook it, and cross-contact cautions for celiac disease.
Hausa Koko: What It Is, How It Is Made and a Simple Millet Porridge Recipe
Hausa koko is a spiced millet porridge from Ghana. What it contains, how vendors make it, a simple home version, and gluten, nightshade and allergy notes.
Halal Check Online: How to Check If a Food or Brand Is Halal, Step by Step
How to check if a food or brand is halal online: read the label, spot E-numbers, find the certifier, check the country, and ask the manufacturer. A step-by-step guide.
About the MetricPoint blog
What you will find here
The blog is where MetricPoint explains the questions people actually ask about food and ingredients: how to read a label, what an additive is and why it is used, how a food sensitivity changes what you can buy, which ingredients raise halal questions, and what to avoid when feeding a baby. We also publish comparisons of the ingredient checking apps people use, written to help you decide which tool fits your situation, and guides for employers who want to support employees with food sensitivities and dietary needs.
How the articles are researched
Claims about ingredients, labeling rules and health are checked against primary sources such as the FDA, the CDC, the EPA and professional bodies like the American Academy of Pediatrics, and we name the source in the article. When we describe another company's app, we rely on that app's own website and store listing rather than assumptions, and we describe our own apps only by features that are confirmed. Each article opens with a short direct answer so you can get the point quickly and read on for the detail.
Where to start
If you are new to reading ingredient labels, begin with the pillar guide at the top of this page, which sets out the basics, then follow the cluster articles into the topic that matters most to you. The food guides cover specific questions in more depth, and the Is it Halal series answers single-product questions in a consistent format. For a quick factual check on one ingredient, the ingredient library and the is-it pages for gluten, keto and sodium give short, sourced answers.
Who we write for
Our readers are people who check labels because they have to: adults managing a food sensitivity or an autoimmune condition, parents feeding a baby or toddler, Muslim shoppers who want to understand what sits behind an ingredient name, and benefits or HR leaders weighing how to support employees with dietary needs. The articles assume you are intelligent but busy, so they define terms once, give the practical takeaway early and avoid scare language about ingredients.
How we keep articles current
Labeling rules, product formulas and app features change, and an out-of-date article is worse than none. When a regulation, a source or a product changes, we revisit the article and correct it. Seasonal topics, such as Ramadan shopping guides, are refreshed ahead of the season they cover.
Educational information, not medical advice
Everything on the blog is educational. Food sensitivities, allergies and chronic conditions differ from person to person, so an article cannot replace advice from a clinician who knows your history, and nothing here is a religious ruling. Products and recipes change, so check the label on what you are buying. If you spot something that is out of date or unclear, the contact page on this site is the way to tell us.
Frequently asked questions
What does the MetricPoint blog cover?
- Practical guides on reading ingredient labels, managing food sensitivities, halal ingredient questions, baby food safety, and employee wellness programs.
How often is the blog updated?
- New articles are published regularly as we add product guides and ingredient research.
Can I use these articles as medical advice?
- No. Articles are educational and should not replace advice from a qualified clinician.