Scan modes
Jaini supports four strictness modes. Your selected mode changes the verdict for the same product. Tap the mode pills at the top of the home screen to switch.
All four modes share one non-negotiable baseline: explicit animal ingredients are always flagged — meat, fish, eggs, gelatin, carmine (E120), shellac (E904), and any insect-derived ingredient show up as Meat Detected regardless of which mode you pick. Dairy is allowed by default in every mode. Honey is restricted in every mode.
The modes differ in what else they restrict on top of that baseline. Here they are, from least strict to most strict.
🌿 Everyday Jain
Who it's for: Day-to-day grocery shopping for most Jain households. This is the default mode for new users.
Flagged as Meat Detected (red)
- Meat, poultry, fish, seafood, shellfish
- Eggs, egg whites, albumin
- Animal gelatin, lard, tallow
- Insect-derived: carmine / cochineal (E120), shellac (E904), beeswax
Flagged as Jain-Restricted (yellow)
- Onion, garlic, leek, shallot, chives (alliums)
- Potato, carrot, beetroot, radish, turnip, ginger, garlic, onion (underground / root vegetables)
- Honey
Flagged as Uncertain (orange)
- "Natural flavors" (source not declared)
- Enzymes (could be animal-, microbial-, or plant-derived)
- Mono- and diglycerides, emulsifiers without a declared source
- L-cysteine (dough conditioner — animal or plant)
- Cultures
Allowed (green)
- Dairy — milk, cheese, butter, ghee, yogurt
- Yeast, baker's yeast, nutritional yeast
- Fermented foods — vinegar, miso, tempeh, kombucha, sauerkraut
- Above-ground vegetables — spinach, kale, broccoli, lettuce, cabbage
- Mushrooms, sprouts, fruits, grains, nuts, seeds, oils
🛕 Temple Mode
Who it's for: Temple visits, puja prasad, religious gatherings, and anyone observing stricter temple-level standards. Picks up everything Everyday Jain restricts plus fermented and alcoholic items.
Adds these restrictions (on top of Everyday)
- Yeast & fungi — baker's yeast, nutritional yeast, yeast extract, mushrooms
- Fermented foods — miso, tempeh, kimchi, sauerkraut, kombucha, vinegar, yogurt cultures
- Alcohol — wine, beer, rum, cooking wine, any alcoholic ingredient
Still allowed
- Dairy (milk, ghee, paneer)
- Above-ground green vegetables (spinach, broccoli, lettuce, cabbage)
- Sprouts
Examples that flip from Jain-Friendly to Jain-Restricted in Temple Mode
- A sourdough bread (contains yeast + fermentation)
- A salad dressing with vinegar
- Soy sauce, tamari, miso soup
- Beer, wine, rum-flavored chocolate
🪷 Paryushan Mode
Who it's for: The 8-day Paryushan festival (Shvetambar) and the 10-day Das Lakshana festival (Digambar), as well as other strict fasting periods. This is the most restrictive mode.
Adds these restrictions (on top of Temple Mode)
- Green leafy vegetables — spinach, kale, lettuce, arugula, collard greens, mustard greens, fenugreek leaves (methi)
- Green vegetables (above-ground) — broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, okra, zucchini, green beans, peas
- Sprouts & germinated seeds — bean sprouts, sprouted lentils, alfalfa sprouts
Still allowed
- Dairy (per household practice — many Paryushan observers also reduce dairy, but the engine allows it by default)
- Grains, legumes (non-sprouted), nuts, and fruits
🥬 Greens+ Mode
Who it's for: Jains who avoid green vegetables, fermented foods, and alcohol year-round — for example, on tithi (lunar fast days), chaudash, chaumasu, or as personal observance.
Adds these restrictions (on top of Everyday)
- Green leafy vegetables — spinach, kale, lettuce, methi, etc.
- Above-ground green vegetables — broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, okra, zucchini
- Sprouts
- Yeast, fermented foods, alcohol — same as Temple Mode
In practice, Greens+ = Temple Mode + green vegetables and sprouts. The main difference from Paryushan Mode is that Greens+ is intended for year-round observance rather than festival periods.
Quick comparison
| Restriction | Everyday | Temple | Paryushan | Greens+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meat, fish, eggs | ✗ Red | ✗ Red | ✗ Red | ✗ Red |
| Carmine / shellac / beeswax (insect) | ✗ Red | ✗ Red | ✗ Red | ✗ Red |
| Onion, garlic, shallots | ⚠ Yellow | ⚠ Yellow | ⚠ Yellow | ⚠ Yellow |
| Root vegetables (potato, carrot, ginger) | ⚠ Yellow | ⚠ Yellow | ⚠ Yellow | ⚠ Yellow |
| Honey | ⚠ Yellow | ⚠ Yellow | ⚠ Yellow | ⚠ Yellow |
| Dairy | ✓ Green | ✓ Green | ✓ Green | ✓ Green |
| Yeast (baker's, nutritional) | ✓ Green | ⚠ Yellow | ⚠ Yellow | ⚠ Yellow |
| Mushrooms, fungi | ✓ Green | ⚠ Yellow | ⚠ Yellow | ⚠ Yellow |
| Fermented (vinegar, miso, kombucha) | ✓ Green | ⚠ Yellow | ⚠ Yellow | ⚠ Yellow |
| Alcohol (wine, beer, rum) | ✓ Green | ⚠ Yellow | ⚠ Yellow | ⚠ Yellow |
| Green leafy vegetables (spinach, kale) | ✓ Green | ✓ Green | ⚠ Yellow | ⚠ Yellow |
| Green vegetables (broccoli, cabbage) | ✓ Green | ✓ Green | ⚠ Yellow | ⚠ Yellow |
| Sprouts | ✓ Green | ✓ Green | ⚠ Yellow | ⚠ Yellow |
Legend: ✓ Green = allowed, ⚠ Yellow = Jain-Restricted (avoided in this mode), ✗ Red = Meat Detected (not Jain-friendly in any mode).
What if my household follows different rules?
Jaini applies the most commonly shared interpretations from the Jain ontology. Individual households, regional communities (Shvetambar vs. Digambar, Gujarat vs. Rajasthan vs. diaspora), and personal observances vary. Jaini is informational — always read the product label and use your own judgment. If you see a product classified in a way you disagree with, use the Flag button on the result screen to let us know.
Changing modes
Tap any of the four mode pills at the top of the home screen. Your selection is remembered on this device and applies to every scan until you change it.