Zoe nutrition reviews: Is this personalized nutrition program worth the investment?

For decades, the nutrition space has been dominated by generalized diets and weight loss plans. Zoe, a relatively new nutrition company, promises a revolution by offering a data-driven personalized nutrition program to optimize gut and metabolic health. Launched in April 2022, the company now has over 100,000 members who rely on its program and adjacent products to inform their diet.

While the idea and offering to “hack” your nutrition choices through science has created hype around Zoe, the company’s approach has received its fair share of criticism from dietitians, nutritionists, and doctors.

To give you an honest overview, our team of experts has looked at several Zoe nutrition reviews—both positive and negative—as well as the science the platform uses to tailor recommendations to your unique biology. We’ll also explore the pricing and logistical aspects to give you a complete picture of the service.

Zoe’s personalized nutrition: An overview

Before being available to the public, Zoe’s personalized nutrition program was conceptualized in 2017 by Jonathan Wolf, George Hadjigeorgiou, and Tim Spector. While Wolf and Hadjigeorgiou have a background in physics and mechanical engineering respectively, Spector is a professor of genetic epidemiology at King’s College, London. His most notable study included 14,000 twins, lasted 25 years, and established that even identical twins that have the exact same genes differ in their responses to food.

Source: Zoe

The founding members were clear about leveraging science as the unique selling proposition for their personalized nutrition program. Over the years, they’ve worked with a growing team of scientists to fine-tune different techniques of tailoring nutrition, including microbiome analysis, blood fat responses, and glucose monitoring.

Zoe has also published peer-reviewed papers in prestigious journals, such as Lancet and Nature Medicine, to present how its approach works across different ethnicities and sexes.

Here’s an overview of its program and adjacent products:

| Product/Service | What it offers                                                                                                                 |
|----------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Zoe Program    | A nutrition program with tests to measure your metabolism and a personalized week-by-week meal plan according to your biology. |
| Daily30+       | An energy-boosting whole food supplement with 30+ superplants.                                                                 |
| MenoScale      | A calculator that helps score the perimenopause and menopause symptoms of women

Bonus reads: Here are some interesting concepts and services supporting personalization in nutrition:

• Nutrigenomics

• Biohacking diet

• Bryan Johnson’s diet plan

• InsideTracker review

• Lumen review

Zoe nutrition reviews: Closer look across 6 aspects

Before committing to Zoe’s personalized nutrition program, you should explore the key service and quality aspects of the platform. Our team analyzed user experiences and discussions in the following areas to support your decision-making:

1. Scientific validity

2. Testing techniques

3. Program overview

4. Daily30+ supplement

5. Pricing plans

6. Customer support

1. Scientific validity

Zoe’s approach to nutrition is based on its PREDICT research program — one of the largest nutritional studies in the world with a database of roughly:

• 4 million glucose readings

• 56,000 triglyceride readings (blood fat responses)

• 12 terabytes of microbiome data

In theory, Zoe uses the biological data collected via these clinical trials to create machine learning models that can predict an individual's unique metabolic responses to foods as well as provide nutritional recommendations that support their long-term health.

While the transparency around the data tested adds a layer of credibility to Zoe’s program, the studies are typically backed by researchers affiliated with the company.

In terms of external validation, we see opinions vary. Most users feel assured by the PREDICT-based program, but a small section of them remain skeptical about the science.

[Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/loseit/comments/wecvzb/comment/k5xl8dt/)

Some experts have also criticized the company’s reliance on continuous glucose monitors. For instance, Dr. Nicola Guess, an academic dietitian and diabetes researcher at the University of Oxford, has pointed out that it’s perfectly normal for a person’s glucose levels to go up quite often in proportion to the amount of carbohydrates they consume — a spike in glucose after a meal doesn’t say much about the “healthiness” of the food.

Source: Zoe

Dr. Guess further argues that Zoe’s studies do not prove whether the company’s personalized nutrition advice is better than generic healthy eating tips.

Professor Partha Kar, a diabetes advisor for NHS England, has also cautioned against continuous blood sugar monitoring since it can lead to eating disorders among people without diabetes.

2. Testing techniques

Zoe’s personalized nutrition program enables three testing techniques:

1. A blood sugar test that requires wearing a continuous glucose monitor for 14 days.

2. A blood fat test based on a blood sample collected with a finger-prick kit.

3. A gut microbiome test based on a stool sample.

You will need to consent to participating in the company’s ongoing clinical study to get a continuous glucose monitor. The website specifies that pregnant women, individuals who have had a heart attack or a stroke in the last two months, and those who are being treated for chronic conditions like type 1 and type 2 diabetes are not eligible for the program.

Source: Zoe

The platform does a good job in terms of convenience as it offers at-home tests for its analyses. You’ll get a ZOE Score indicating your current metabolic health — and have to submit your samples frequently to track your progress, which can be a deal-breaker for some users.

💡Tip: Consider genetic testing for personalized nutrition choices

While Zoe tailors your diet based on metabolic responses, you should consider genetic testing to get a more foundational baseline for personalized nutrition choices.

Clinical-grade whole-genome DNA health platforms like Nucleus analyze your genetic markers to reveal your genetic predisposition to various health conditions, carrier diseases, traits, and rare disorders. If you’re looking to tailor your diet, Nucleus looks at ~100% of your DNA to locate the common and rare genetic variants that can impact your dietary choices. The best part is that genetic markers don’t change over time, so you get all the benefits, including raw data and reports, from a one-time test and can have a better-informed approach toward long-term health.

Get your Nucleus DNA health kit today to get started.

3. Program overview

After the tests, Zoe’s personalized nutrition program requires logging all your meals into its app to get insights on how food works for you. Its software uses artificial intelligence to give each meal a score ranging from 1 to 100, which supposedly indicates how beneficial that item is for you based on your data.

You also see caloric information per item, but the Zoe app doesn’t emphasize it. Instead, it encourages you to aim for a score of 75 or above every day, presumably to promote a less restrictive attitude towards food.

Source: Zoe

The app also provides recipes tailored for you, as well as suggestions on alternative ingredients that can make some popular meals healthier.

The program has a straightforward setup and the website is full of overwhelmingly positive reviews of customers reporting benefits like more energy, feeling fuller for longer, and reduced afternoon slumps. Some users have also reported losing weight:

[Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/ultraprocessedfood/comments/1dhx5a0/comment/l969fbz/)

That said, a few customers shared that Zoe’s food recommendations made them feel worse or that the plant-based diet promoted by the program wasn’t optimal for them. 

Additionally, the program’s emphasis on reducing carbohydrate consumption may not be compatible with an active lifestyle. Also, if you have a health condition that affects your diet, it’s best to consult your doctor before following Zoe’s recommendations.

[Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/ultraprocessedfood/comments/1dhx5a0/comment/l90vh7q/)

Furthermore, there are concerns about the program’s gamification aspect — the compulsion to log meals and maintain a good meal score can potentially lead to an unhealthy relationship with food, which makes it unsuitable for individuals with a history of eating disorders.

4. Daily30+ supplement

Source: Zoe

Zoe’s supplement product, Daily30+, is made of 30+ superplants and provides 5 grams of fiber per day. This supplement was designed to be consumed as a topping on savory meals. 

The company conducted a randomized clinical trial to test the efficacy of Daily30+ and found that 51% of participants reported improved energy, which isn’t a significant number in this context.

Unfortunately, Waitrose, an upscale grocery store in the United Kingdom, recently had to recall this supplement due to the potential risk of contamination with small stones and metal fragments. Zoe then issued a voluntary recall of Daily30+ and temporarily stopped selling it on its website. At the time of writing, it’s not available for sale.

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5. Pricing plans

Here’s a quick overview of Zoe’s personalized nutrition program as of March 2025*:

| Pricing plan | What’s included                    | Test kit cost | Subscription cost | Subscription duration | Effective cost for the duration |
|-------------|----------------------------------|--------------|-----------------|---------------------|-------------------------------|
| Start       | Test kit + app                   | $294 upfront | $24.99/month    | 4 months            | $393.96                        |
| Core        | Test kit + app                   | $294 upfront | $9.99/month     | 12 months           | $413.88                        |
| Complete    | Test kit + app + gut health retest | $474 upfront | $9.99/month     | 12 months           | $593.88

*Prices depict US dollar values. This program is currently only available in the United States (except for the state of New York) and the United Kingdom.

Zoe’s Complete plan also comes with a retest kit, which may appeal to customers prioritizing value for money. That said, many users argue that the pricing is steep considering the platform’s limited actionable insights covering mostly food scores and recommendations.

Looking to explore beyond Zoe? Here are reviews of some similar health services to consider:

• Viome review

• Viome vs. Zoe review

• HVMN Ketone IQ 

• Siphox Health review 

• Lifeforce Diagnostic review

6. Customer support

Zoe nutrition maintains a good rating on Trustpilot, but we’ve noticed numerous negative reviews regarding poor customer support, especially starting in late 2024. Some of the most concerning issues include:

• Limited availability of human support agents

• Unsatisfactory chatbot support

• Unwanted auto-renewals of annual subscriptions

• Issues with returns and refunds

• Delayed or unavailable Daily30+ products

• Unclear billing and refund policies

• No analysis of blood samples conducted

• Misleading testing instructions

While many customers have complained about not getting refunds, we found that the company’s returns and refunds policy considers all sales final. They cannot be canceled unless the order has not been prepared yet. Overall, it seems that many users have found Zoe’s customer support underwhelming.

Zoe nutrition review takeaways: Is it worth the hype?

While Zoe’s data-backed techniques to support nutrition may work for some users, we don’t have enough unbiased evidence to measure its efficacy for personalized nutrition. The program’s greatest value, in our opinion, comes from the personalized food scores. Still, the high costs and retesting associated may make it an inaccessible option for many users.

The personalization factor in recommendations is also not well-defined. For instance, many health services default to providing familiar advice to users, such as getting enough sleep, eating plant-based or whole foods, and exercising regularly.

The truth is that you need genetic testing for achieving real, long-term personalization in dietary and health choices. One of the best ways to get started is with Nucleus all-in-one DNA health platform.

[X](https://x.com/nucleusgenomics/status/1891504137478570493)

Nucleus offers clinical-grade and physician-approved DNA analyses based on one of the most advanced testing technologies — whole-genome sequencing or WGS, made affordable for you.

WGS looks at almost your entire DNA blueprint to screen different aspects of your mental and physical health, traits, and disease carriers with 99.9% accuracy. You get dozens of illustrative, readymade reports as well as raw data files to check for any specific gene variants you may be worried about.

For instance, your genes impact your risk of developing various diet-related health conditions, such as alcohol dependence, celiac disease, and type-2 diabetes, or your ability to adapt to a plant-based diet. Nucleus allows you to make those choices from a genetics-informed perspective.

[X](https://x.com/GEVS94/status/1781729454068273184)

Nucleus DNA analyses: Your guide to personalization in health

Nucleus offers DNA analyses based on samples collected with simple at-home test kits. Additionally, the platform also includes your lifestyle and other personal factors, such as BMI, smoking status, and blood pressure levels, to create reports tailored to you. At only $399, you’ll be tested for 900+ conditions and get all available reports on the Nucleus platform.

Complete your Nucleus testing and get access to:

1. Your risk scores for all available health conditions, including depression, heart disease, celiac disease, and type 2 diabetes

2. Trait reports that denote how your genetics influence traits like muscle strength, IQ, allergies, and longevity

3. Your carrier risks that you can pass on down your bloodline

4. Rare genetic variants that impact your health (most DNA platforms miss this data)

5. Your raw DNA data in a .vcf file format that is yours forever!

You can use your raw data on third-party tools like GeneticGenie to learn more about your genetic variants. You can also use Nucleus’ gene bank to check if reports for the variants — the platform constantly updates its report pool to cover more diseases.

How to order Nucleus Premium

You need to order the Nucleus Premium test kit to send your samples. Here’s what you can do:

1. Sign up for Nucleus Premium

2. Provide your personal information

3. Order your DNA kit (FSA/HSA eligible)

Once the lab receives your DNA sample, you can expect the results within 6–8 weeks. Delivery and return shipping are free.

Nucleus is HIPAA-compliant and only works with CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited labs in the U.S. to add an additional layer of security. The platform also helps you connect with board-certified SteadyMD genetic counselors who can go over your reports and suggest personalized recommendations for health optimization, therapies, diet and nutrition, exercise, etc.

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Consider reading these in-depth reviews of other popular health optimization platforms:

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| [Orchid Health review](https://mynucleus.com/blog/orchid-health)            | [Levels Health review](https://mynucleus.com/blog/levels-health-review)        |
| [Xcode Life review](https://mynucleus.com/blog/xcode-life-reviews)          | [23andMe review](https://mynucleus.com/blog/23andme-review)                    |
| [Oura Ring vs. Whoop](https://mynucleus.com/blog/oura-ring-vs-whoop)        | [Eight Sleep review](https://mynucleus.com/blog/eight-sleep-reviews)           |
| [Oura Ring vs. Apple Watch](https://mynucleus.com/blog/oura-vs-apple-watch) | [Eight Sleep alternatives](https://mynucleus.com/blog/eight-sleep-alternative) |
| [Oura Ring alternatives](https://mynucleus.com/blog/oura-ring-alternatives) | [BedJet vs. Eight Sleep](https://mynucleus.com/blog/bedjet-vs-eight-sleep)     |
| [Biohacking for women](https://mynucleus.com/blog/biohacking-for-women)     | [SelfDecode review](https://mynucleus.com/blog/selfdecode-review)              |

Featured image source: Zoe