Trash Panda in the Press: Coverage & Mentions

Trash Panda is a food ingredient scanning app focused on ingredient transparency rather than calorie counting or diet culture. Below is a selection of press coverage, podcast appearances, and expert commentary featuring our team and mission.

Real people. Real results.

I couldn't believe all the junk in the food we purchase. This app makes it so easy to figure out what is in the packaged food. If you want to get healthy download this immediately.

Johnny-NYiPhone user

It's fantastic! You scan the food and it pops up with a list of dangerous ingredients. All of those ingredients are then linked to a short explanation and articles/ studies about them. As someone who is very skeptical and needs to see data, I really appreciate that.

seafoammountainsAndroid user

Worth every penny! I was easily able to clean up my diet and reverse my terminal cancer diagnosis.

Corie W.Premium member

Press Appearances

  • 752: Why "Healthy" Foods May Be Making You Inflamed, Exhausted & Deregulated

    Essentially You with Dr. Mariza Snyder • June 2026

    Julia Putzeys joins Dr. Mariza Snyder on Essentially You to discuss why over 70% of grocery store products qualify as ultra-processed foods, how additives, flavorings, and artificial dyes are engineered to override natural hunger signals, and why reading ingredients — not calories — is the more useful lens for understanding what's in your food. The conversation covers the links between ultra-processed foods and inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, and disrupted energy, along with how Trash Panda helps shoppers identify ingredient concerns at the store.

  • Reading Food Labels Made Simple for Busy Parents with Julia Putzeys

    The Well Nourished Mama • January 2026

    Julia Putzeys joins The Well Nourished Mama to discuss how introducing solids to a baby often prompts parents to reexamine their own pantry, why ultra-processed foods are engineered to be hard to resist, and how to navigate picky eating without defaulting to convenience products. Practical guidance on which additives to watch for and how to make label reading less overwhelming.

  • How Food Ingredients Guide Teens to Eat Better, Without Restriction

    Healthy Teen Life Podcast • January 2026

    Julia Putzeys joins the Healthy Teen Life Podcast to discuss why ingredient awareness is a more useful framework than calorie counting, how ultra-processed foods affect energy and cravings, and how to read labels without it becoming overwhelming. Aimed at teens looking for a sustainable, non-restrictive approach to food.

  • Julia Putzeys: The App That Decodes Your Food Lies

    Dr. Darshan Shah MD • Longevity Physician • November 2025

    Julia Putzeys joins Dr. Darshan Shah on EXTEND to discuss how ultra-processed foods are engineered to drive cravings, why ingredient density matters more than macro counts, and how labeling claims like "low-fat" and "sugar-free" can mask additive-heavy formulations. The conversation covers seed oils, artificial dyes, and how shifting toward whole foods affects the gut microbiome over time.

  • Trash Panda Increasing Access to Healthy Food Knowledge (Paywall)

    San Diego Business Journal • November 2025 • Eli Walsh

    San Diego Business Journal profiles Trash Panda's founding, growth to over half a million downloads since its 2021 launch, and Julia Putzeys' path from senior product manager to certified nutritional therapy practitioner. The piece situates the app within a broader cultural shift around food transparency and a growing competitive landscape for ingredient-scanning tools.

    “everyone should have access to real food that helps them thrive and feel their best”

  • Save On Your Grocery Bill with Trash Panda

    Colorado and Company KUSA-TV • October 2025

    Colorado & Company host interviews Julia Putzeys about how Trash Panda helps shoppers navigate confusing front-of-package marketing claims like "all-natural" and "high-protein." The conversation covers why ingredient labels reveal more than calorie counts, the over 10,000 additives in the U.S. food supply, why "sugar-free" products often contain more concerning sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners, and how the app surfaces better-choice swaps when a scanned product has flagged ingredients.

  • How Julia Putzeys Built Trash Panda: The App Helping You Eat Smarter

    The Authority Company Podcast • October 2025

    Julia Putzeys joins host Joe Pardavila on The Authority Company Podcast to discuss how a career in product management — including a stint at the NFL — combined with her nutrition background to shape Trash Panda. The conversation covers how the app flags harmful ingredients via barcode scan, why packaged foods aren't categorically the problem, and Trash Panda's commitment to independence with no paid brand partnerships.

  • Courtney Swan: Why Your ‘Healthy’ Food Is Actually Harmful

    The Ultimate Human Podcast with Gary Breka • June 2025

    Health expert Courtney Swan recommends Trash Panda on Gary Brecka's Ultimate Human Podcast as a tool for scanning grocery products, identifying flagged ingredients, and surfacing alternatives. The mention came in a broader conversation about consumer-driven shifts toward ingredient transparency and how purchasing habits can drive change in the packaged food industry.