For Nephrologists · Dietitians · Renal Nurses · Caregivers

A Free Behavioral Tool for Your CKD Patients

Swicko & Souro is a non-medical wellness companion that helps kidney disease patients build renal-safe habits through barcode scanning, behavioral prompts, and gamified streaks — without requiring clinical math. Educational use only; not medical advice.

Try the Free Scanner Provider FAQ ↓
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Not
Medical Advice
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Free
Web Scanner, No Download
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KDOQI
2020 Guideline-Aligned Thresholds
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Not a
Medical Device or App
What This Tool Is

Swicko & Souro is a free behavioral wellness companion for CKD patients — not a medical device and not medical advice. It uses barcode scanning, a gamified "shield" metaphor, and mascot-driven prompts to help patients make safer food choices at the grocery store and at restaurants. Messaging focuses on Swicko's kidney shield, not the patient's clinical status.

Wellness Framing & Privacy (Not a Clinical Tool)

Swicko & Souro is designed as a behavioral wellness and education companion — not as a diagnostic tool, prescription aid, or HIPAA-covered clinical system. The core metaphor — protecting "Swicko's kidney shield" — keeps guidance mascot-centric rather than patient-chart-centric. Here's what that means for your practice:

✓ Not marketed as a medical device ✓ No diagnostic claims ✓ No medication guidance ✓ Mascot-centric messaging (Swicko's shield) ✓ No traffic-light shame colors ✓ App meal logs stored on device

Data practices: On the mobile app, meal logs, streaks, and preferences are stored on the patient's device. On the website, patients may optionally sign in with email (account and scan-balance data); we also collect standard web usage data as described in our Privacy Policy. We do not position Swicko & Souro as a HIPAA Business Associate or substitute for your care plan — patients should follow limits you set.

How the Tool Supports Your Patients

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Barcode Scanner (Free to Try)

Patients scan any packaged food barcode. The tool fetches the product's FDA label from OpenFoodFacts and immediately flags hidden phosphate additives (e.g., "PHOS" compounds), potassium chloride salt substitutes, and sodium preservatives — displayed as visual units (salt packets, bananas, cheese slices) rather than raw milligrams.

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Two Configurable Tracks

Patients choose between Sodium Aware (earlier stages, general wellness) and Strict Limits (advanced CKD/dialysis, tighter potassium & phosphorus thresholds per KDOQI 2020). They can toggle between tracks at any time without losing scan history. Dialysis Mode adds a fluid tracker defaulting to a 1.50 L ceiling.

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Behavioral Habit Engine (Not Calorie Math)

Instead of requiring patients to count milligrams, the app uses a "Daily Shield Score" (0–100) that reflects behavioral patterns: fresh cooking earns more protection, restaurant meals and processed foods reduce it. Streaks reward consecutive days of logging — but never award points for logging alone, eliminating point-farming loopholes that could mask dangerous intake.

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Non-Judgmental Mascot Coaching

When patients scan a high-risk item, the mascot Souro uses motivational interviewing language ("Restaurant food can be tricky — did you ask for sauce on the side?") rather than shame-based warnings. Research links shame-based dietary feedback to higher non-compliance rates. The mascot system is designed to keep patients engaged rather than avoidant.

Nutritional Thresholds Used

All thresholds are based on published clinical guidelines and can be reviewed below:

Nutrient Sodium Aware (per serving) Strict Limits (per serving) Source
Sodium Low <200mg · Mod 200–500mg Low <140mg · Mod 140–300mg FDA DV / AHA
Potassium Low <400mg · Mod 400–700mg Low <200mg · Mod 200–400mg KDOQI 2020 [1]
Phosphorus Low <200mg · Mod 200–400mg Low <100mg · Mod 100–200mg KDOQI 2020 [1]
Additive Detection Flags "PHOS" compounds & Potassium Chloride in ingredients regardless of track Kalantar-Zadeh 2010 [2]

Visual display uses approximated real-world anchors (1 salt packet ≈ 200mg sodium; 1 banana ≈ 400mg potassium) to reduce cognitive load. Precise mg values are always shown alongside visual units.

📋 Share with Your Patients

The free scanner needs no download. Just send this link:

Or share this provider page with colleagues:
swickoandsouro.com/for-providers

Print One-Page Provider Handout

Provider FAQ
Is Swicko & Souro a medical device?
No. Swicko & Souro is a behavioral wellness companion, not an FDA-regulated medical device. It does not diagnose, treat, or prescribe. All guidance is framed through a fictional mascot companion (Swicko) to ensure the tool remains in the wellness/education category.
What data does Swicko & Souro collect?
Mobile app: Meal logs, streak data, and dietary preferences are stored on the patient's device (AsyncStorage). Website: Optional email sign-in may store account data (e.g., email, scan balance) and we collect routine web analytics. We do not market this product as a medical device or HIPAA-covered service. For full details, see our Privacy Policy.
What nutrition thresholds does the scanner use?
The scanner uses two configurable tracks: Sodium Aware (general wellness; KDOQI-aligned sodium focus) and Strict Limits (advanced CKD/dialysis; stricter potassium and phosphorus thresholds). Thresholds are based on KDOQI 2020 Clinical Practice Guidelines for Nutrition in CKD. Patients can switch tracks without losing scan history.
Can I recommend this app to dialysis patients specifically?
Yes. The Strict Limits track enables a Dialysis Mode that activates a fluid intake tracker (defaulting to a 1.50 L daily ceiling). The barcode scanner also applies tighter potassium and phosphorus thresholds aligned with dialysis-level restrictions. Patients should confirm personal limits with their nephrologist.
How do I share this tool with my patients?
The free web scanner at swickoandsouro.com/scan works on any smartphone browser — no download required for a first experience. For ongoing habit tracking, the mobile app provides streaks, gamification, and the full Bento Box meal-logging system. Print the one-page provider handout, share this page with colleagues, or copy the scanner link above.

Clinical References

  1. Ikizler, T.A., et al. "KDOQI Clinical Practice Guideline for Nutrition in CKD: 2020 Update." [1] American Journal of Kidney Diseases, 2020.
  2. Kalantar-Zadeh, K., et al. "Understanding sources of dietary phosphorus in the treatment of patients with chronic kidney disease." [2] CJASN, 2010.
  3. St-Jules, P.N., et al. "Examining the proportion of dietary phosphorus from food additives." [3] Journal of Renal Nutrition, 2017.