Reduce glare when photographing a shiny food wrapper
Move the light reflection, retain the whole panel, and check the original image before relying on extracted text.
A glossy wrapper can turn a small reflection into a missing ingredient or an unreadable number. Increasing brightness is not always the answer. First change the angle between the wrapper, camera, and light so the bright patch moves away from the text you need.
Find the reflection before taking close-ups
Set the package on a stable surface and look at the screen while moving the light direction or rotating the package slightly. Use broad, indirect light when available. Avoid a direct flash if it creates a bright patch over the printing. These are practical photography suggestions, not a guaranteed recognition method.
Start with a complete panel image. Then take closer views of any areas that remain difficult. The panel heading, serving basis, and units matter because they establish what the numbers mean; see the FDA explanation of Nutrition Facts structure. The FDA source supports that label context, not the lighting technique.
Change one condition at a time
If a number is covered by glare, take another image after a small package rotation. Compare the same line in both images. If the glare moved but the text became blurred, adjust distance or steadiness rather than accepting the new image simply because the white patch disappeared.
For a flexible wrapper, gently support the printed area so a crease does not repeatedly cover the same word. Do not stretch it so much that letters distort or move behind another fold. Keep package edges and any seam visible in at least one wider image.
Use a two-image verification
When possible, preserve two readable views with different reflection positions. Check the exact digit, decimal separator, unit, and any less-than sign against both. If one view loses a character and the other resolves it, keep both originals with your transcription.
A hypothetical “0.5” partly hidden by glare can be mistaken for “5.” Do not choose the value that seems more plausible from the food type. Rephotograph the line until the character is visible, or record it as unreadable.
Finish by reviewing the saved image itself, not only the live camera preview or extracted text. Good lighting reduces one source of error; it does not prove the transcription is correct. A useful capture makes every important character available for direct checking.