# Chemical Maze - Shopping Companion > Identify food additives and cosmetic ingredients, their risks, and effects. (iPhone/iPad app by The Chemical Maze Pty Ltd.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chemical-maze-shopping-companion/id363470500 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [The Chemical Maze Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1319765443) - Category: Medical, Health & Fitness - Price: $6.99 - Rating: 3.60/5 from 5 App Store ratings · 58 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 12+ - Requires: iOS 7.0 · 2 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2010-03-30 - Data updated: 2026-08-26 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chemical-maze-shopping-companion/id363470500/reviews.md ## What is Chemical Maze? What’s in your Food? What’s in your Cosmetics? Are you at risk? The Chemical Maze – Shopping Companion App has been produced to make it simpler and easier to recognise food additives and cosmetic ingredients having the potential to cause discomfort and ill-health. With this recognition comes freedom of choice and for many a new lease on life. This App is based on the international best-selling book The Chemical Maze with more than 15 years of ongoing research. ▼ Easy to Use: ------------- Easily browse through either Food Additives or Cosmetic Ingredients Search for Additives/Ingredients by name Search for Food Additives by INS number - Example 621 or E621 - MSG User friendly rating codes (smiley, neutral and sad faces) for each Additive/Ingredient Sort by name, number and risk level ▼ Search results for Food Additives and Cosmetic Ingredients the way you want them: ---------------------------------------------------------------- Identify the Risk Levels of each Discover those to avoid based on Dietary Restrictions Identify those that may cause various Symptoms or Ailments Discover which ones Effect different parts of your Body or Systems Find out what they are Derived from ▼ Filter by Symptoms and Ailments : -------------------------------------------------- Acne Aggressive Behavior Allergies Asthma Behavioral Problems Confusion Depression Gastrointestinal Ailments Hay Fever Headache & Migraines Hyperactivity Learning Difficulties Skin Ailments (Eczema, Dermatitis, Itching, Hives, Rash, etc) Sleep Disturbance ▼ Filter by your Dietary Restriction : ------------------------------------------------- Vegetarian Vegan Celiac (Gluten Free) Contains Salicylates Lactose Intolerant ▼ Filter the Effects on your Body: -------------------------------------------- Carcinogenic Cardiovascular System Developmental System Endocrine System Gastrointestinal System and Liver Immune System Kidneys Musculoskeletal system Nervous System Malabsorption Reproductive System Respiratory System ▼ Filter by what they are Derived from: ----------------------------------------------------- Animal Bacteria Fish Gas Insect Mineral Plant Synthetic Genetically Modified (GMO) Petroleum Nano Technology Palm Oil ## Key features - Browse food additives and cosmetic ingredients - Search by name or INS number - User-friendly risk ratings - Filter by symptoms and ailments - Filter by dietary restrictions - Filter by bodily effects - Identify ingredient sources ## Recent user reviews (10 of 58) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chemical-maze-shopping-companion/id363470500/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Worth it’s weight in gold *2025-07-09, version 3.0* If you want to live a healthier life without niggling health issues then this app is going to be your best friend. I don’t normally pay for apps but this is the best money I’ve ever spent on a health/food related app. I’ve had it for many years now and It has helped me and my family live a healthier lifestyle. Can’t recommend it highly enough! ### 4/5 — Awesome App. Use it everyday . *2025-03-31, version 3.0* It’s great App. But needs an update . There is more chemicals and more research I feel is missing . Please update ### 3/5 — Update well overdue *2024-03-05, version 3.0* Good info but not up to date ### 2/5 — Some good info but some misinformation as well *2023-10-19, version 3.0* At first, I was very excited to find this app! But then I noticed that while it does have some good information which is why I got two stars instead of one, there are a lot of ingredients that aren’t in the database. There are also some ingredients that are labeled as safe when they are not such as sunflower Lecithin. What’s worse when I emailed them to let them know, they ignored me. Not only is that a horrible customer interface and shameful but there are people eating that it’s hidden in foods and it’s contributing to inflammation an oxidation within the body and I bet people don’t know why they aren’t feeling well. Generally, speaking seed oils are not good for you in any form. Sunflower Lecithin, soy lecithin, safflower lecithin… and more…. are part of the reason America is so sick. I don’t care what the criminal agencies say about it they lie about everything else. Of course they’re going to lie about it being safe. Do your own research. And unfortunately, we can’t even trust like this. ### 5/5 — A must have app! *2022-05-18, version 3.0* Thank you for creating this handy app, so good! ### 4/5 — Please update *2021-02-06, version 3.0* Please update the app ### 4/5 — Handy while shopping *2020-01-16, version 3.0* Have used the book for years, fantastic info to make informed choices for food and beauty/skincare products . I would love a search feature that finds the next best fit for the complicated ingredient you’re trying to spell correctly....!!! ### 2/5 — Update needed *2019-09-20, version 3.0* It’s been 4 yrs since an updated There are things I’m searching for that are on labels that aren’t in the app Love this app and use it all the time but we are long overdue for an upgrade ### 4/5 — Great App! *2019-02-14, version 3.0* Awesome app to reference regarding the sort of side effects you’ll have or not have by consuming or applying food or products that contain various preservatives and/or chemicals. One thing this app needs is a current update. 👍🏼😊 ### 4/5 — The Chemical Maze *2018-12-27, version 3.0* This is a fabulous app -however an update is long overdue as the number of chemicals we are now finding in products continues to grow at an alarming rate & some companies just change the name slightly to hide nasty chemicals that might be in their products ## Frequently asked questions about Chemical Maze ### What does the Chemical Maze app do? The Chemical Maze app helps you identify food additives and cosmetic ingredients that may cause discomfort or ill-health. It provides detailed information on risk levels, potential symptoms, dietary impacts, and ingredient sources, empowering you to make informed purchasing decisions. ### How can I search for specific ingredients? You can easily search for additives or ingredients by their name. For food additives, you can also search using their INS number, such as '621' or 'E621' for MSG. The app also allows you to browse through categories of food additives and cosmetic ingredients. ### Is the Chemical Maze app free to use? Yes, the Chemical Maze app is completely free to use. It does not have any in-app purchases or advertisements, allowing you to access all its features without any cost. ### What kind of information can I find about ingredients? For each additive or ingredient, you can discover its risk level, identify those to avoid based on dietary restrictions, find out which symptoms or ailments they may cause, and learn about their effects on different parts of your body or systems. You can also see what they are derived from. ### Can I filter ingredients based on my dietary needs or health concerns? Absolutely. The app allows you to filter ingredients by a wide range of symptoms and ailments, such as allergies, asthma, or skin issues. You can also filter by dietary restrictions like vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free, and by effects on your body systems. ## Version history (last 4 releases) ### 3.0 — 2015-05-30 This update from Apple will improve the functionality of this app. No new features are included. - Addition of more than 60 food additives approved for use in the EU. - All new, revamped interface to simplify use - iOS 8 and retina screen support Enjoy!! ### 5 — 2010-12-28 This major new release has been built to make your life in the Chemical Maze easier: - Join with the launch of the new The Chemical Maze (5th Edition) book due early this year - We have a new name "Chemical Maze - Complete Edition" - Updated research with the latest finding on Food Additives and Cosmetic Ingredients - Ability to Filter by Symptoms, Diet, Derived from and Effects on Body and Risk Levels - Cross reference listings to see what other Additives/Ingredients have in common Thank you for your great support & feedback. ##Please Note: No Barcode Scanner We have removed the barcode scanner as have been unable to find a reliable and comprehensive source of Australian or New Zealand food product data (as opposed to just nutritional information, fats, sugars, etc) against which to use the scanner effectively. ### 1.1 — 2010-06-14 Food additives updated Cosmetic ingredients updated User interface update ### 1.0 — 2010-03-25 No release notes. ## Apps similar to Chemical Maze | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Radskill Imaging Patient](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/radskill-imaging-patient/id6752762783) | 3.3 (3) | Free | Medical | --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-26.*