Will food apps become addictive?

According to Apple, there are currently more than 85,000 apps available to over 50 million iPhone and iPod touch users worldwide.

According to Apple, there are currently more than 85,000 apps available to over 50 million iPhone and iPod touch users worldwide. Undeniably, with many apps costing under $2 and many free, users have downloaded and might we say, devoured, a staggering two billion apps in just over a year. Apple sure believes there will be a continued use and demand for more apps (and they have no reason not to) as their iPhone Developer Program currently employs more than 125,000 techies filling our lives with games, information, and really anything else you can imagine at just the tap of your finger.
 
More people are tapping their way to food information, and you had better get your iPhone out and start downloading. Some of the newest apps are simply amazing and will change the way your shoppers will select their foods. 
 
App is the abbreviation for application, a piece of software that can run on the Internet, your computer, phone- iPhone or iPod Touch. We have reported on Kraft’s iFood Assistant, a multi-purpose shopping and recipe app, and mentioned others like GroceryiQ, iEatOut for allergy sufferers, and games like Cooking Dash. Apps can do a variety of things and can even employ your phone’s camera- to scan barcodes for nutrition information, track your diet, or make payments by debiting your app-linked bank account.   
 
Here’s another great new food app that helps your shopper make informed, healthy, and of course money saving decisions at the supermarket, in one of the most highly debated and possibly misunderstood topics today: organic vs. conventional. As organic foods have hit mainstream, many are confused about what to do upon entering the market; which foods, especially fruits and vegetables we should be choosing organic and when to pass.  The latest USDA update reported that on average, organic foods costs more than double their conventional counterpart- so there is now an “app” to the rescue.
 
Soleil mobile has created a simple organic versus conventional iPhone, iPod Touch and Google G1 handset app that was designed for quick reference when grocery shopping.  Natasha Soleil, President at Soleil Mobile, Inc. commented, ‘Like many people, I tend to stand in the isle wondering if I should really spend the extra cash on an organic item or should I skip it.’  The categories in this quick reference app include fruits, vegetables, meat and poultry, dairy and eggs, seafood, grains and general tips and terms. 
 
Users are able to browse through categories and select specific foods for information if they should ‘Buy it’, ‘Skip It’ or ‘Your Pick’ to help them make the decision. The app does not seem to favor organic over conventional, or vice versa, but instead provides fair and straight forward advice. For example, when shopping for vegetables, Soleil’s app suggests you “skip” buying organic asparagus, as it does not attract insects, thus little to no pesticides are used during growing. On the other hand Soleil suggests always buying organic celery, as it grows very close to the ground, has no protective layers, and comes in contact with pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers that can easily migrate into the stalks. 
 
Soleil Organics is available for 99 cents for iPhone and Google G1 handset users and can be found in the lifestyle app category. Check it out before your shopper does.