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Zeer is designed to help users improve their diet and live with specific dietary needs. The site suggests products that fall within the guidelines of certain diets. Users can search by product name, UPC, category or brand name to find item profiles. The profiles include a great deal of information such as the manufacturer, ingredients list and user reviews for the item. An image of the product is also included. Users can add the item to their shopping list or share it with others. The Zeer product page also includes potential alternative products that might be a better choice for the user. The Zeer community’s page helps users get in touch with groups of people who have the same dietary needs. Users with diabetes, a food intolerance or allergy can find those who have similar health concerns. Zeer is a website dedicated entirely to improving diets and helping users live with their unique dietary needs.

Zeer was founded in June of 2007 in Cambridge, Massachusetts by Michael Putnam. The team currently consists of around five individuals, including President Putnam, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development Mark Sutton, Community Manager Shannon Bullard Sweetser, Web Designer Michael Manning, Software Engineers Keith Wright and Matt McMahon, Software Architect Jon Oakes, Food Research Associate Gillian O’Callaghan and Public Relations Associate Sara Frain.

Diets can be tricky to manage, especially for anyone who has special eating requirements due to a health condition. While many websites present a great deal of information, Zeer puts it into practice. The site provides information on individual products and gives the user suggested alternatives that might fit better into their dietary needs.

The Zeer website welcomes visitors with a teal and white color scheme highlighted by hints of healthy lime green. The homepage is very well organized and clutter free. A search tool is presented along with navigational links across the top of the page. The product listings are very easy to understand, with an actual nutrition facts image, text product lists and thumbnail images of suggested alternative products.

As soon as a new user arrives on the Zeer homepage, they are presented with the short registration form (found along the right hand side). The form asks for the basics, including a first and last name, email address and password. A note at the bottom of the form advises the user that by submitting their information they are verifying their agreement with the site’s terms of service and privacy policy. It also notes that the user is automatically signed up to receive emails from Zeer. This is a bit of a disappointment considering how many other websites simply check the opt in box for you (so the user must uncheck it). Zeer takes it a little further by making the user create an account, log in and access their preferences to opt out of email updates.

Anyone can create a Zeer basic membership for free. This account gives the user access to all basic features. A premium paid membership option is also available called the Zeer Select membership. This plan costs around $5 per month and includes recently reviewed product lists, gluten warnings on products with a data confirmation date, problem ingredients highlighted on product pages, gluten free alternative product suggestions and gluten free product list sharing.

Zeer is a very beneficial tool for anyone with special dietary needs. Users can find better alternatives for their diet. The site provides a wealth of information on each product, including an image and nutrition facts.

• Search for products using name, brand or UPC
• Save items to your “My Groceries” list
• Check out health alternative products
• View product ingredients and nutrition facts
• Share product lists with others

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