Unlocking the Power of Personalized Nutrition with XUME: How to Get Detailed Food Ingredient Insights and Health Scores

In today’s fast-paced lifestyle, where convenience often takes precedence over quality, India’s packaged food industry has thrived, offering a diverse range of products to tantalize taste buds, though not always meeting nutritional requirements.

A recent study by the George Institute of Global Health at Oxford sheds light on a concerning trend: packaged foods in India rank among the world’s least healthy.

This isn’t merely a statistic; it’s a wake-up call for the millions habitually turning to these products on grocery shelves. While quick, ready-to-eat meals and snacks hold undeniable appeal, the toll on health is often disregarded.

The issue is twofold: consumers are inundated with options laden with trans fats, sugars, and preservatives, while deciphering their nutritional value is hindered by complex labels and misleading marketing. This challenge is compounded by a cultural shift towards convenience eating, alongside limited awareness and education on nutrition.

Even well-intentioned individuals aiming for healthier choices struggle to interpret the nutritional information listed on packages. This gap in comprehension, coupled with the difficulty in accessing clear nutritional guidance, fuels a paradox: a growing desire for healthy eating amidst increased consumption of unhealthy packaged foods.

The consequence? A society grappling with the long-term health implications of its dietary habits, emphasizing the pressing need for a solution to demystify nutrition.

In response to this urgent need, Akshaye Jalan launched Xume, a startup designed to assist consumers in making informed food choices. Xume evaluates packaged groceries based on over 60 health parameters and recommends healthier alternatives.

Who is the Founder of Xume?

Akshaye Jalan spearheads Xume as its founder and CEO, bringing with him a wealth of entrepreneurial experience. Prior to Xume, Jalan co-founded Elganza Furnishings in 1999 and later ventured into Bumblebees. Additionally, he held the position of President at Global Tycoons Inc.

Jalan’s motivation to establish Xume stemmed from a personal incident involving his father’s unexpected heart attack despite maintaining a seemingly healthy lifestyle. This prompted Jalan to scrutinize food labels and ingredients, leading to the development of Xume’s AI-driven platform. Over eight years, Xume has evolved into a comprehensive solution, assessing products against 60+ health parameters, drawing insights from regulatory bodies such as India’s Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA), and Europe’s Food and Drug Administration.

How Xume Functions

Xume streamlines the often overwhelming process of interpreting food labels. The company has introduced the Xume App, a user-friendly platform enabling individuals to effortlessly scan a product’s barcode for a comprehensive breakdown of ingredients and a personalized health rating.

This innovative app goes beyond mere label scanning; it also suggests healthier alternatives, establishing itself as an essential tool for informed dietary decisions, much like TripAdvisor for travel or IMDb for movies.

With initial backing from seed investment spearheaded by Aakash Chaudhary of Aakash Educational Services, Xume harnesses AI technology to navigate an extensive database spanning over 100,000 products, 10,000 ingredients, and 3,500 brands. This rigorous process results in assigning a health score to each product out of 100, empowering consumers to opt for healthier eating options.

How Does Xume Generate Revenue?

Xume employs a dual revenue model: a subscription-based service tailored for ‘Pro’ users and a B2B partnership approach.

For individual users, Xume offers a ‘Pro’ subscription model with a range of features, including personalized recipes and access to masterclasses, available for a monthly fee of Rs 1,299 or an annual fee of Rs 8,399. These features extend to personalized food recommendations, curated grocery shopping lists, and health-focused events, enriching user experience beyond basic functionalities.

This subscription setup ensures a steady revenue stream while delivering enhanced value to consumers.

Moreover, Xume strategically collaborates with Healthcare and Insurance Companies, integrating its grocery-scoring intelligence into their offerings. For instance, insurance companies leverage Xume’s services to promote healthier food choices among policyholders as part of wellness programs.

Operating on a contractual basis with B2B partners, Xume likely provides its technology and services for a fee, structured as a flat rate, per-user fee, or commission on generated leads or sales.

With partnerships established in the insurance, diagnostics, and healthcare sectors, Xume enhances the preventative healthcare landscape by integrating its grocery-scoring intelligence.

Future plans for Xume include expanding its product database, enhancing AI capabilities for more accurate recommendations, and exploring additional revenue streams like advertising or premium B2B services.