The platform is entirely open-source, offering free access to anyone wishing to use the data for research, app development, or advocacy. It supports transparency and informed decision-making by making detailed food information publicly available. To enhance data quality, Open Food Facts relies on community moderation and is currently developing image recognition technology to improve accuracy and efficiency in data collection.

Although the initiative began in France, it now operates globally, driven by the collective effort of its contributors. The database has proven valuable to individuals aiming to make healthier and more sustainable food choices, as well as to researchers and organisations addressing nutrition, health, and environmental challenges. By enabling access to data that highlights the environmental impact of food products, Open Food Facts supports life-centred values, encouraging choices that are both personally beneficial and ecologically responsible.

One notable example of Open Food Facts’ impact can be seen in the development of the French Nutri-Score labelling system, which helps consumers quickly understand the nutritional quality of food products. Researchers and public health bodies used Open Food Facts data to test and refine the system before its official implementation. The availability of a vast, open dataset made it possible to evaluate how well Nutri-Score would perform across thousands of real-world products. Today, Nutri-Score is adopted in several European countries and is helping millions of consumers make healthier choices at a glance. This illustrates how citizen-contributed data can support public policy, inform regulation, and lead to widespread health benefits.