diff --git a/forms.py b/forms.py
index 7c2c657..7dcd4f4 100644
--- a/forms.py
+++ b/forms.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ class LoginForm(FlaskForm):
 
 
 class FoodItemForm(FlaskForm):
-    barcode = IntegerField("Barcode", validators=[Optional()])
+    barcode = StringField("Barcode", validators=[Optional()])
     name = StringField("Product Name", validators=[DataRequired()])
     energy = IntegerField("Energy per 100g", validators=[InputRequired()])
     protein = FloatField("protein per 100g", validators=[InputRequired()])
diff --git a/models.py b/models.py
index 660c967..cb5292b 100644
--- a/models.py
+++ b/models.py
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ class Unit(db.Model):
 class FoodItem(db.Model):
     __tablename__ = "food_item"
     id = db.Column(db.Integer, primary_key=True)
-    barcode = db.Column(db.Integer)
+    barcode = db.Column(db.String)
     owner_id = db.Column(db.Integer, db.ForeignKey("user.id"), nullable=False)
     name = db.Column(db.String(150), nullable=False)
 
@@ -66,10 +66,12 @@ class FoodItem(db.Model):
         protein: float,
         carbs: float,
         fat: float,
-        barcode: Optional[int] = None,
+        barcode: Optional[str] = None,
         sugar: Optional[float] = None,
         saturated_fat: Optional[float] = None,
     ):
+        if barcode and not barcode.isdigit():
+            raise ValueError("Barcode must contain only digits.")
         self.name = name
         self.owner_id = owner_id
         self.energy_100 = energy
diff --git a/seed.py b/seed.py
index 8592523..66b0748 100644
--- a/seed.py
+++ b/seed.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ with app.app_context():
             protein=5.5,
             saturated_fat=10,
             sugar=35,
-            barcode=2278012003502,
+            barcode="2278012003502",
         )
     )