Buycott app lets you vote with your wallet in the supermarket

[Cincinnatus]

An appealing idea.

If supermarket shelves are overwhelming due to the sheer diversity of items, imagine the corporate structure behind the packaging. Or don't; just let your phone do it. Scan any bar code (UPC-A, UPC-E, EAN8, EAN13...) with your phone and the free Buycott app (for iOS; a previously available Android version is now "Coming soon") will display the product's corporate family tree on the screen. The app takes knowing where your food comes from further, telling you not only what brand belongs to what company, but what that company does with your dollars...

Importantly, and promisingly, users can join campaigns (both for and against) issues that they care about. The app keeps track of user input, making it easy to shop for products that don't conflict with your beliefs. And this is what it is all about: knowing where your food comes from and where the dollars that buy it go.

If initial reaction is any gauge then it would appear this is something that consumers have been waiting for. There have been some negative user reviews as Buycott has been struggling to deal with the traffic. However, it's worth keeping an eye on, just like your grocery basket.

http://www.cnet.com/8301-13553_1-57584644-32/buycott-app-lets-you-vote-with-your-wallet-in-the-supermarket/