Abstract: A method of updating a database listing ingredients of food products sold, where the database resides in a portable device used to scan food product labels to detect the presence of particular ingredients in food products, includes the steps of obtaining information regarding the ingredients of food products sold to consumers, updating a database that lists ingredients of food products, and transmitting the updated database to a desired number of portable devices used to scan product labels. A portable device for scanning a food product label includes a keypad, a display, a barcode scanner, a database listing ingredients of food products, a processor to compare the target food product ingredient to the database of ingredients, and an indicator to indicate whether or not the target food product ingredient is present, and when the database does not include the scanned product.