How Tallow works
No research required.
Scan it
Point your camera at the barcode on that tray of ground chuck, or anything else in the store.
Ground Chuck, 80/20
See the score
A 50 out of 100, with the exact reasons named. You can read into exactly why it scored that way.
What you picked up50
94Swap it
Tallow puts a 94 in front of you. Same shelf, same dinner, so you swap instead of walking away empty-handed.
It's that easy.
Why Tallow
Find real,
trustworthy food.
We break it down. You decide.
Pick the standards you won’t cross. Every product gets a yes or no next to the number.
Fail one standard and it’s a no, whatever it scored.
We read the lab reports so you don't have to.
Know before you walk in.
Places near you, scored on what the kitchen actually cooks with. Filter to the ones that skip seed oils entirely.
Stricter rules for the small ones.
Flip one switch and Tallow tightens up: anything no lab has ever measured loses points instead of getting the benefit of the doubt.
Trusted by people who stopped trusting the label
FAQ
Questions, answered straight.
How is the Tallow score calculated?
Every product starts at 100. Each ingredient is rated 0–4: the worst tier costs 40 points, the next 10, mild ones 3. Penalties stack, and the first ingredient weighs 1.3×. A lab-measured contaminant is priced against its legal limit instead. NOVA 4 loses 10, risky packaging up to 8, and certified organic earns the only bonus, +5.
Are seed oils actually bad?
Setting the inflammation debate aside, we flag them because they're the clearest signal of careful sourcing. Products and kitchens that skip seed oils almost always skip the additives and packaging we penalize too.
What is NOVA classification?
The standard food-classification system used in nutrition research. Group 1 is unprocessed, 2 is culinary ingredients like oil and butter, 3 is processed foods like bread and cheese, and 4 is ultra-processed. Tallow shows the group on every product.
Can I score products against my own standards?
Yes. Pick from seven: artificial ingredients, ultra-processed, seed oils, high sugar, high carbs, risky packaging, hidden contaminants. You get a thumbs up or down next to the number. One strike: fail one and it's a no for you, whatever it scored.
What's free, and what costs money?
Free to download, and scanning a product for its score is free. Premium ($19.99/year, with a free trial in-app) unlocks the full ingredient breakdown, Healthier Swaps, nutrition facts, and search. The restaurant map is free.
How do you make money?
The Premium subscription on the scanner. We do take money from brands and restaurants for placement and partnerships, and we say so when we do. What money can never buy is a score: ratings come from ingredients and lab data only, and no payment has ever moved one up or down.