Barcode scanner UK food database not working?

[Rylan]

Hey guys,

I'm putting this here because I'm at a loss for where else to put it. However, it's a feature I try to access from the android app so here goes;

What on earth is going on with barcode scanning and the UK food database? I literally have never successfully found a product by scanning the barcode. I'm not even talking about rare foods from niche stores either. I'm talking about Tesco's bread, Warburton's bread, Tesco's Roasted Chicken, ASDAs milk, NISAs milk, Co-op's margarine.....common products bought from well known stores.

Has anyone had a positive experience of this and is it just me? I don't want to use MFP to track my food but, honestly, it's getting to the point where I don't have much choice.

Moderator Edit: Updated Subject For Clarity.

[RobertoME]

Hello @Rylan, its nice to see you again. Note the Food scanning is available only for the US food data base.

You'll see the barcode scanning option but it won't work. To check which food database you're using, complete these steps:

1. From the Fitbit app dashboard, tap or click the Account icon
2. Tap Advanced Settings.
3. Tap Food Database.

If this is something in which you're interested, please visit this feature suggestion: 
Barcode Scanning for International Food Databases. Feel free to contribute with your vote and comments. This is a great way to share your feedback with us and know what you'd like to see in the future!

Hope this helps. Let me know if you have additional questions.

[Atreides]

 "If this is something in which you're interested, please visit this feature suggestion"

Hi there,

Correct me if I'm wrong please, but the feature IS within the app, from the UK AppStore. 

I think it's fair to say, that not only do people want it in, it's actually expected to be working! 

[Helderxmx]

I agree 

I read previous posts and it's pretty disgusting that they do not have it for UK or any other European countries... And it's been the case for years now... 

[Delgal]

I have not had any luck with the bar code scanner! Whats the point of having a feature that can not be used unless you live in the US!! Very dissapointed and frustrating

[Dragonaxe]

Especially when the advanced database has 16 non-US countries listed. But it only works with the USA!? Come on guys, that’s just wrong!!

[Rentech]

I'll add my name to this.  Why give a UK option if it does not work?

[Jinxster]

Totally agree with everyone's comments! If fitbit want us UK peeps (and other countries) to buy their product.. then give us an app that has the same functionality than the USA currently enjoys.. it's NOT ROCKET SCIENCE but good customer service 

[StaceyH123]

This is a ridiculous  situation for Fitbit to be in considering how large and popular Fitbit is. It really lets the functionality down. People have Fitbits because they would like assistance in logging calories and exercise in a quick, easy and reliable way. Why advertise functions (such as the barcode scanner) which are only specific to certain areas of the world when the devices are sold worldwide!!  Come on Fitbit!! Listen to your users and stop dangling useful applications that do not work!!  Its like someone buying an iphone in the US and being told they can only use it abroad!

[Delgal]

Totally agree!! 


Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.

[VictoriaJ]

Adding my frustrated voice also. 

Thing is it did used to work back in 2015 so it's something that has been taken away.

Disappointing to say the least.

[RobertoME]

Hello everyone, thank you for your feedback regarding the option to use the bar code scanner for international food data base. At the moment the idea I suggested before was updated with more information about our future plans and the option to add international food data base to the barcode scanner.

The statuses of our feature suggestion are dynamic and can change if priorities change. Rest assure this is not an statement we do not care our users. In some instances are roadblocks that can make a feature not available for all regions. Nonetheless we are working to improve and offer the same Fitbit experience to all our users.

Just to clarify this option has not been removed or taken from our new versions of the app.

So far that's all the information available. If more details arise, I will let you know.

[Atreides]

Hi Roberto. Thank you for your input. Im afraid though as far as im concerned, it does little to nothing to put out this fire.

To quote you " The statuses of our feature suggestion are dynamic and can change if priorities change. "

I can tell you that as myself, and a few other of your customers, are also 'dynamic'. And that i have bought a garmin which im much more happy with. Fitbit is churning out device after device now. But doing nothing about its software. This has been the case for years. Im utterly confused as to how a room full of employees at fitbit cannot seem to grasp that to acheive or maintain a market share, the app and its features has to work fully. Plenty other companies have managed a UK barcode scanner. Id suggest to fitbit a re jig in the upper management. They are clearly not effective. And are also out of touch wih their customers. If you can churn out xx amount of new devices, you could easily spend a little time on working on this feature. So with that, i'm now gone. I will await to see the financial report of fitbit in due course, but to carry on down this route, i fully expect to see fitbit struggling. Fyi, garmin does not have a barcode scanner... But it also never said it has as a selling point originally. I also find its better made, more accurate and just more polished and les child like. 

I hope for your existing customer base you introduce it soon, and that further replies are only really warranted if there is definitive answers. Right now, your and any other vague answer is just a fart in the wind. 

[steventyson_uk]

I looked at the link to suggest the UK food database as a feature but apparently it’s ‘not planned’?

I can choose the UK database in the Fitbit app though!

Ive had a couple of Fitbit’s over the years and the barcode scan has never ever worked with anything remotely useful over here 🙂

MFP does it just fine and can link basic data to the Fitbit app but it’s a pain to have to rely on another app to have functionality which should really be built in.

Im pretty sure the UK isn’t your biggest market but come on, throw us some love from over the pond! I’d even pay for the database on a Fitbit subscription to stop MFP creaming money from those Ad’s it keeps showing me!

Come on guys - schedule the software feature and make us plucky-Brits happy 🙂

[Joann1]

I have not had any luck with the bar code scanner! Whats the point of having a feature that can not be used unless you live in the US!! Very dissapointed and frustrating

[Moodster]

It used to work really well when I first started to use Fitbit. I took about 6 months off following a back injury and now when I’ve tried to get back into it, no longer works. Very disappointed with Fitbit as the app was main reason I held off going to other fitness trackers. Will be reconsidering. 

[Candyball69]

Tried everything to use barcode UK database. Nothing works, help. 

[Lilbiddy]

Sorry @Candyball69 as you can see if you're not in the USA you don't get the full service. 

This comes up regularly on the forum and gets the same reply asking you to petition for a service that is supposed to be included. 

Well that has had a result of sweet Fanny Adams so far. 

I just wish they would stop trying to compete with the true smartwatches and concentrate on being a fitness tracker that works.  Especially one that works on ALL android phones. 

[Delgal]

It wont work only if you live in USA


Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.

[JenUnfit]

---

So agree, It's pretty disgusting. I don't think the UK get the Ftbits cheaper than the USA so we should be given the same service and uses.

Steventyson, when you say MFP, is that My Fitness Pal? If so please can you let me know how you link it to Fitbit because I can't figure that out. 

Thank you