What you put in, you get out and the same philosophy applies to your body. Food is fuel and it’s essential that we know the quality of goods we’re consuming. It’s often the case that things we think are healthy, are actually packed with hidden nasties.
Though food is not the enemy and no food is bad food, it’s important to know what to enjoy in moderation. Now, there’s an app to help you do just that!
KnowitWorld is a food information platform that was founded in 2019 by 33-year-old Indian native, Abhijit Nath, and 26-year-old South African, Matthew Gearing. This platform helps consumers get to know the food they love on a deeper level by either searching the product or scanning its barcode.
Since it’s official launch in June 2021, KnowitWorld has acquired over 55 000 Instagram followers and 7100 subscribers on the platform. The response and recognition from their followers further affirmed that it was a product much-needed in the South African market.
The KnowitWorld Instagram page is a great place to start if you’re keen on knowing your food fuel. The account share’s everything from how to make a wholesome sarmie to comparing calories and nutritional information in different foods and meals. You’d be shocked by some of the results!
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“Food is very important for the survival of humankind. It plays a crucial role in how we as a species flourish. It is what every one of us needs every day in some form to be alive. We at Knowit want to bring that knowledge to the people and educate them about the benefit of everything we consume and how it could either make us weaker or stronger and in doing so how we can make an impact on the environment and play our role in contributing to UN SDGs & Global Health goals,” says Abhijit.
KnowitWorld is like a personalised grocery shop that has a wealth of information about the products we buy in-store. Users can sort the displayed products based on their respective nutritional needs and even find out how certain foods affect their health.
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They can also search through a vast majority of products from retailers and restaurants, as well as filter out the ones that don’t apply to them. This also includes comparing prices, nutritional information, exercise equivalents, checking their calorie calculator, scanning products and creating a shareable shopping list.
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But, this is only the tip of the iceberg of what this innovative application can do:
“In an age where information is so readily available, there is still a lack of transparency around what is in the food we eat. Through our research, we found that people lacked a clear and concise pathway to the information they needed. Thus, we created a product that presents food data in a simple, personalised and informative way,” says Matthew.
KnowitWorld has over 100 different key data points that can assist users in finding the products that are specific to their lifestyle (vegans, vegetarians, gluten free, dairy free etc). The brand’s purpose is to educate people about the benefits and downsides of the food that they consume daily, with consumers becoming more conscious of their wellbeing.
Abhijit and Matthew’s vision for the brand is to have all products from every food and beverage company in South Africa on the platform. Currently, the platform is partnered with online shopping retailer, Quench, where users can click on the Knowit logo on the products they’ve selected to know more about their food composition.
Any company that wants to give their customers more in depth information beyond what is on the product label can integrate the KnowIt logo which has built-in code. This will help their customers make more informed decisions.
“We want Knowit to form part of all South African’s daily rituals. We envisioned ourselves to be a single app that allows users to browse and shop at any store from the comfort of their home. We want all food brands to commit to food transparency as all South Africans have the right to know what is in their food products,” the founders express.
To learn more about KnowitWorld, visit knowit.world
*Disclaimer: Using meal-tracking apps can be triggering for those living with eating disorders or those in recovery from eating disorders. If you’re struggling, it’s always best to consult a registered dietician and/or medical professional. Visit www.eatingdisorderhope.com for helpful resources. Contact NEDA in case of emergencies.
Also read:
Healthy eating affirmation on your list? Locals give the lowdown on the challenges
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