Question 1

Is it free?

Accepted Answer

The Free tier is free, and stays free. It covers all 11 Canadian priority allergens, unlimited barcode checks, and 10 Snaps a month. Pro, Family, and Ultimate add more Snaps, more profiles, the Chrome extension, and more restaurant checks. These are launch prices, reserved now before the app ships.

Question 2

Who is Pearchy for?

Accepted Answer

Anyone who reads ingredient lists. Adults managing their own allergies, people with celiac or intolerances, anyone on a dietary restriction, careful shoppers, and parents checking labels for their kids. If you’ve ever squinted at the back of a package in the aisle, it’s for you.

Question 3

How does the profile work?

Accepted Answer

You set your profile once when you sign in, and the app remembers it. When you scan a label, it reads the ingredients against your profile and gives you one clear answer. You can update what you avoid any time. Accounts are part of the launch build, not yet open.

Question 4

Can I set up more than one profile?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Households rarely avoid the same things, so paid tiers let you keep a separate profile for each person. Scan once, then check the result against whoever you’re shopping for. Multi-profile support ships with the paid tiers at launch.

Question 5

Do I need an account to try it?

Accepted Answer

Barcode checks and a quick scan work right away. Saving a profile and syncing it across your devices needs an account, which opens with the launch build. You won’t need one just to see how a scan reads a label.

Question 6

Which allergens does Pearchy check?

Accepted Answer

Canada’s 11 priority allergens: peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, fish, crustaceans, molluscs, sesame, soy, mustard, and wheat. That’s two more than the US list, which leaves out molluscs and mustard. Pearchy checks all 11, plus an extended list of derivative and hidden names for each one.

Question 7

What about the three answers Pearchy gives?

Accepted Answer

Every scan lands on one of three results. Compatible means nothing in your profile was declared on the label. Avoid means something in your profile is listed. Uncertain means the label is unclear, or uses wording that needs a closer look, like a vague flavouring. The point is one plain answer, not a wall of ingredients.

Question 8

Does it cover gluten and sulphites?

Accepted Answer

Wheat is one of the 11 priority allergens, and Pearchy reads the four gluten grains too: barley, rye, oats, and triticale. Sulphites are a separate declared ingredient on Canadian labels, and Pearchy reads them as well if you choose to track them. You decide which of these show up in your result.

Question 9

How does it handle "may contain" warnings?

Accepted Answer

A "may contain" line is a precautionary note from the manufacturer about possible cross-contact, not a declared ingredient. Pearchy surfaces these separately so you see them clearly instead of buried in fine print. You decide how much weight to give them.

Question 10

Does it check anything beyond food?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Plenty of things you put on your body carry ingredient lists too, like lotions, lip balm, and personal care items. Pearchy reads those declared lists the same way it reads a food label, so you’re not switching tools to check a label.

Question 11

Does it read French labels?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Pearchy is bilingual by design. Canadian labels list ingredients in both English and French, and Pearchy reads both sides. If a label is French only, it still works.

Question 12

Does it work on store and private-label brands?

Accepted Answer

It reads the label, not a fixed list of brand names, so it works the same on a national brand, a store brand, or a small private label. If the package has a declared ingredient list, Pearchy can read it.

Question 13

What about imported or specialty products?

Accepted Answer

If the package carries a declared ingredient list, Pearchy reads it, whether it’s a national brand, an import, or a small specialty item. Imported products sometimes word their lists differently, so Pearchy reads what’s printed on the package in front of you.

Question 14

Can I check a photo I already took?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can scan a label live in the aisle, or check a photo from your library after you’ve left the store.

Question 15

What if a label is worn or hard to read?

Accepted Answer

If part of a label is too faded or creased to read clearly, Pearchy tells you rather than guessing. You’ll get an Uncertain result with a prompt to check the physical package, instead of a confident answer built on an incomplete read.

Question 16

Is this medical advice?

Accepted Answer

No. Pearchy is an information tool, not a medical device. It reads declared ingredient lists and matches them against your settings. It does not account for undeclared allergens, cross-contact risks, or individual medical needs. Always verify the physical package and follow your healthcare provider’s guidance.

Question 17

Can I rely on it for a severe allergy?

Accepted Answer

Pearchy is one more check, not a replacement for your own judgment or your doctor’s guidance. It reads what the manufacturer declared, which can change between batches and can’t speak to cross-contact in a facility. For a severe allergy, keep verifying the physical package and follow your healthcare provider’s plan.

Question 18

Can I use it for my child’s allergy?

Accepted Answer

It can help you read a label, but it’s an information tool, not a medical device, and it doesn’t replace an allergist’s plan or an epinephrine routine. For a child’s allergy, keep following your healthcare provider’s guidance and verify the physical package every time.

Question 19

What does Pearchy not account for?

Accepted Answer

It reads what’s printed. It can’t know about undeclared ingredients, recipe changes that haven’t reached the label yet, or cross-contact during manufacturing. When a label is vague, Pearchy says so rather than filling in the gap for you.

Question 20

When does it launch?

Accepted Answer

We’re in early access right now. Reserve your spot below and we’ll let you know when the app’s ready. We’re starting with the Canadian grocery aisle, then expanding.

Question 21

What do I get for reserving now?

Accepted Answer

Reserving locks in today’s launch pricing and puts you near the front of the line when we open up. You’ll hear from us first when the app’s ready, and there’s no charge until then.

Question 22

Will the price change after launch?

Accepted Answer

Reserving now holds today’s launch pricing. Prices may be higher once we open up, and the rate you reserve is the one you keep.

Question 23

Is my information private?

Accepted Answer

We ask for as little as we need, and we don’t sell your information. The full details are in our privacy policy, and you stay in control of what you choose to track.

Question 24

Which regions are covered first?

Accepted Answer

We’re starting with the Canadian grocery aisle, built around Canada’s 11 priority allergens and its bilingual labelling rules. Once that’s solid, we expand from there.

Pearchy

One scan. One honest answer.

A label hides what you need to know.

Soy hides behind dozens of names.

Three steps. One answer.

Scan

Match

Verdict

Pearchy reads the label and gives you one answer.

Built for Canada.

11 allergens, not 9

Private label, covered

English and French

Reformulations, caught

Questions, answered.

Start scanning.