01 — Why we exist
Read
what
you eat.
Reading a packaged food label shouldn't feel like cracking an entrance exam. We built whatsinit for people who want to know what they're eating — clearly, quickly, and without marketing nonsense.
02 — How we tier
Four
tiers.
Evidence-based.
Every ingredient on whatsinit is sorted into one of four tiers. The tier is evidence-based, not preference-based.
Avoid
Consistently linked to higher health concerns or misleading formulation.
e.g. Partially hydrogenated oils — industrial trans fats linked to heart disease.
Caution
Acceptable for some, but deserves attention for kids, pregnancy, sensitivities.
e.g. Artificial sweeteners — not ideal for children or frequent high intake.
Okay
Evidence suggests these are generally fine at typical exposure levels.
e.g. Lecithin — common stabiliser with a well-established safety profile.
Unknown
Not enough independent research yet. We flag transparently rather than guess.
e.g. Novel bioactive blends — newer ingredient classes without long-term study.
03 — What we check
Cited.
Read.
Decoded.
We don't do “trust us bro” science. Every ingredient page is built using peer-reviewed studies, FSSAI, EFSA, and FDA guidance — with citations linked directly.
Ingredient research
Peer-reviewed studies plus regulatory guidance from FSSAI, EFSA, FDA. Citations linked directly so you can verify.
Product evaluation
Hidden sugars and sodium, additive load, allergen risks, marketing claims. A clean-looking packet means nothing on its own.
What SafeShelf means
Products that pass every check: cleaner ingredients, transparent labels, lower concern profiles. The baseline, not the bonus.
04 — What we don't do
If money can change a verdict,
the verdict means nothing.
We do not accept payment to influence our verdicts, ingredient findings, SafeShelf decisions, or product placement. If a partnership requires editorial control, softened findings, or selective coverage, we walk away.
How we fund the work
Three sources, in order of how we'd like them to grow.
Affiliate links
Small Amazon commission on purchases through our links — at no extra cost to the buyer. Never affects what we say.
Subscription (planned)
Lightweight tier with advanced health filters, ingredient dossiers, curated SafeShelf insights. Buys access, never influence.
Never
Display ads, sponsored placements, paid reviews, or anything that buys editorial coverage.
05 — Keep us honest
We can
be wrong.
Tell us.
Food products change constantly — formulations update, labels vary by region, and OCR isn't perfect. If you spot an error, report it. We'd rather correct mistakes publicly than pretend they don't exist.
Report a correction
Use the contact form — we publish corrections rather than quietly editing.
Reach us
support@whatsinit.in or via the Contact page. We read every message.
Versioning
We version this methodology. Major changes are logged in reverse chronological order — what changed and why.