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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
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The verdict on

Bobby Approved

65
User verdict / 100 High confidence Divided

Bobby Approved is a popular food scanner app that helps users identify healthy products, but recent reviews highlight significant issues with its barcode scanner functionality, limited product database, and perceived bias towards sponsored items.

4.9★ lifetime (152,611) Free + in-app purchases since 2021 by BA GLOBAL HOLDINGS LLC updated 3.1 mo ago recent negative 11% 120 reviews across 2 regions
Health Guidance Scanner Issues Product Database Bias & Accuracy User Experience
5★268
4★22
3★6
2★6
1★30
recent reviews across 2 regions, vs the 4.9★ lifetime average

Bobby Approved is a food and personal care product scanner app designed to help users make healthier purchasing decisions by identifying 'approved' items. While many users praise its effectiveness in guiding them towards cleaner eating, recent feedback indicates widespread problems with the scanner, a database that lacks many common products, and concerns about potential bias from sponsored content.

What users like

  • Effectively guides users to healthier food and personal care choices, simplifying shopping for clean ingredients.R1R2R3R7
  • Provides rationale for product ratings, helping users understand why an item is or isn't approved.R2R26R35R73
  • Easy to use interface with a scanner feature that streamlines grocery shopping.R9R17R18R19

What users complain about

  • Barcode scanner is frequently non-functional, slow, or inaccurate, making the app difficult to use in stores.R59R66R105R127
  • Limited product database, especially for items in Canada and certain stores like Costco or Sam's Club, with many products not recognized or stuck 'under review'.R59R105R200R269
  • Concerns about bias, lack of scientific evidence, and promotion of sponsored products, leading to inconsistent or questionable ratings.R23R27R28R46
  • Search function is ineffective and provides irrelevant results.R200
  • Lack of explanation for 'thumbs down' ratings leaves users confused.R20R26R145
  • The 'Shop By Store' feature has been removed, reducing convenience for some users.R131

Latest update · v1.0.44

What the developer says changed (the verdict above weighs this against what reviewers report):

Performance improvements

Recurring themes

Scanner Issues negative
Many users report the barcode scanner is slow, doesn't work, or gives errors, making the app frustrating and unusable for its primary function. This contradicts the developer's claim of 'performance improvements' in the latest update.R59R66R105R127
Product Database negative
The app's database is seen as limited, especially for products in Canada and specific stores like Costco or Sam's Club. Many items are not recognized, or their reviews are perpetually 'under review'.R33R59R105R200
Bias & Accuracy negative
Users express concerns that the app's recommendations are biased, driven by sponsorships, or promote products Bobby Parrish is invested in. Some question the scientific basis of the ratings, noting inconsistencies and perceived misinformation.R23R27R28R46
Health Guidance positive
Many users highly value the app for helping them make healthier food and product choices, avoid harmful ingredients, and improve their overall well-being. They appreciate the guidance and education it provides.R1R2R3R7
User Experience mixed
While some find the app easy to use and navigate, others are frustrated by the search function's poor performance, the lack of explanations for ratings, and the removal of the 'Shop By Store' feature.R9R17R18R20

Who it's for

This app is for individuals who prioritize clean eating and are looking for a quick tool to identify healthier food and personal care products while shopping R1R2. It's particularly useful for those who trust Bobby Parrish's guidance on ingredients and want to simplify their decision-making process in stores R7R18.

Evidence note: The recent reviews skew significantly negative, particularly regarding technical issues like the scanner and database limitations. This contrasts sharply with the app's high lifetime rating of 4.87, suggesting a recent decline in performance or user satisfaction. The developer's notes mention 'performance improvements,' but recent reviews directly contradict this, with many users reporting scanner and speed issues.

Frequently asked

Does the Bobby Approved app work reliably for scanning products?
Recent reviews indicate that the barcode scanner in the Bobby Approved app frequently malfunctions, is slow, or fails to recognize products, despite developer claims of performance improvements R59R66R127.
Is the Bobby Approved app's product database comprehensive?
Many users report that the app's product database is limited, often failing to recognize common items, especially in Canada and specific stores like Costco or Sam's Club, with many products remaining 'under review' for extended periods R33R59R105R200.
Are the product ratings in Bobby Approved unbiased?
Some recent reviews express concerns that the app's ratings may be biased, driven by sponsorships, or promote products that the developer is invested in, leading to questions about the objectivity and scientific backing of its recommendations R23R27R28R121.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R1] 5/5 · US Great app: I would never consider putting anything in my shopping cart until I used the BobbyApproved food scanner app. It has helped me make wise purchasing decisions while at the same time protecting me for making decisions that could hurt my health a lot. Thank you, Bobby!
  2. [R2] 5/5 · US Life Changer!: We’ve been looking to eat cleaner and healthier and this is definitely a truth telling app! Not only flags products that are not clean, but provides the rationale as to why.
  3. [R3] 5/5 · US My fav go to app: Living healthy thanks to this app.
  4. [R7] 5/5 · US To Bobby and family,: I can’t thank Bobby Parrish enough for changing the way I shop and eat. His ingredient scanner and educational videos have completely transformed how I make food choices. I now buy only Bobby-approved foods, and the difference has been amazing. I’ve lost weight, have so much more energy, and simply feel healthier. At 81 years old, I can honestly say it’s never too late to ma
  5. [R26] 5/5 · US Fix: Love the app, but can you add a feature and give us reasons why it’s not approved so it helps us to understand what is bad
  6. [R35] 5/5 · US Easy to use: I love that it scans and then breaks it down. Makes the decision to buy or not so simple.
  7. [R73] 5/5 · US Can do groceries with out it: The best tool to help you understand the ingredients of the food you are purchasing. Amazing and thank you
  8. [R9] 5/5 · US Love ❤️: Since finding Bobby approved app, my shopping has gotten so much easier! All the things I need in one spot. If I’m looking for a good product, I just put it in and search! Also so user friendly with the scanner! I can’t say anything against this app! It’s amazing 🤩
  9. [R17] 5/5 · US Awesome: Use it every time I go to the store so helpful
  10. [R18] 5/5 · US Thank God For Bobby!: I use the Bobby approved app for everyyyyyyyyything! It helps me take my time on being more aware & cautious what I’m using & eating. Especially for a mom of 2 under 2 I need the details fast. No time to get on YouTube lol Thank God for Bobby’s life 🤍 God put people like Bobby in this world to make it simpler for people like me to enjoy life as a mom & still be on top of my g
  11. [R19] 5/5 · US Scanner: I really like this app. It helps me to buy everything I need with confidence knowing is Bobby approved 👍🏻
  12. [R59] 2/5 · US Slow app: I caught Bobby’s reviews on food items on YouTube and he was promoting his app. I downloaded his app and attempted to use in Costco which is where a lot of his good items he reviews are located. App took so long to scan and respond … it took 30 minutes to scan 3 items … who has time & patience for this? I went to the regular grocery store the next day and the 2 items I attempted to sc
  13. [R66] 2/5 · US App doesn’t work: Great review and most of the groceries we buy are recommended by Bobby. We watch his review minutes after he post time on social media. But, this app doesn’t work in over 90% stores. Always receive errors. Sent an email to them they seem to blame the net connection. Suggest we try to turn off the WiFi or only use WiFi. Hope the tech team takes this review seriously. Than you?
  14. [R105] 2/5 · US Many items don’t scan: After using this app for a month or so doing food shopping, it seems most foods I scan are not rated yet. So, I end up going to the competitor app that has more rated foods.
  15. [R127] 1/5 · US Wont scan: Was excited to use but won’t scan codes. Hopefully just an update needed from developers
  16. [R200] 3/5 · US Great App, Needs Some Work: I love this app and really appreciate being able to filter unwanted ingredients when shopping. The search query in this app really needs some work. You can search for “Shampoo” and barely have anything pop up but then if you scan something if will show it when it didn’t just by search. You can barely misspell something and it will have zero search results. Also a lot of
  17. [R269] 3/5 · CA Can’t wait till it’s up to date !: The makings of a great App ! A lot of products are not recognized though . Wish it would suggest more Costco alternatives as Bobby does in real life ! Can’t wait until this app is up and running like Yuka because this app will definitely become my number one
  18. [R23] 1/5 · US Bad: This app recommends poor-quality products just to earn commissions. Some sponsored products contain high-risk additives, yet the app still rates them positively. The recommendations feel biased and driven by sponsorships rather than consumer health.
  19. [R27] 1/5 · US Fear mongering social media influencer without any nutrition credentials: This guy has no education, training, or certifications in nutrition or food science. Anti seed oil claims without evidence aren’t helping anyone eat healthier. No thanks. Deleting app and will use something evidence-based.
  20. [R28] 1/5 · US No full disclosure: No backing in research or European reviews seen here.
  21. [R46] 1/5 · US Not relatable: Bobby not approve natural flavors, but extracts are approved…and is the same thing!!
  22. [R20] 1/5 · US Help: Bobby, I love you so much but I’m 64 years old and I still like to cheat a little bit with food and personal care… I still wanna go out and get a beautiful tan you’re still not answering my question what type of tanning lotion can I use you keep giving thumbs down to everything. Are you trying to tell me I should not use any tanning oil Please give me a response. Thanks. I am one of your big
  23. [R145] 3/5 · US Ok: I love all your YouTube advice! But with the app you need to give an explanation if an item gets a. Thumbs down
  24. [R131] 1/5 · US Shop By Store Gone: Love this app but where did the rest of the stores go? This made it so easy to browse and search specific stores we shop at, but now they’re gone.
  25. [R33] 1/5 · US Please review Sam’s Club products: I need foods from Sam’s Club reviewed
  26. [R135] 1/5 · US Scan: Not even scanning the barcode
  27. [R121] 1/5 · US You’re a sell out: So disappointed

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store