Primary Data Source

GetFoodFacts uses nutrition data exclusively from USDA FoodData Central, the authoritative food composition database maintained by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service. Source: fdc.nal.usda.gov.

Daily Value (DV) percentages and label format follow the FDA's 2020 Nutrition Facts label rules, see FDA Nutrition Facts Label. Major food allergen disclosure follows FDA's FALCPA + FASTER Act guidance covering the Big 9 allergens.

Dietary recommendations, when referenced in editorial guides, follow the USDA / HHS Dietary Guidelines for Americans and CDC Healthy Eating. We do not invent dietary thresholds or coupling claims (e.g. "low-sodium" badges follow the FDA's published threshold definition, not editorial heuristics).

Data Types We Include

USDA FoodData Central organizes foods into four data types. GetFoodFacts includes all four:

• SR Legacy (~7,800 foods) - The most detailed dataset with comprehensive nutrient profiles for common whole foods and ingredients. The successor to the long-running USDA Standard Reference database.
• Foundation Foods (~365 foods) - Rigorously measured foods with extended nutrient data including analytical values and food components.
• Branded Foods (~1.98 million foods) - Packaged food products submitted by manufacturers, importers, and retailers, including label-declared nutrient values.
• Survey Foods (FNDDS) - Foods and portion descriptions used in USDA dietary intake surveys, covering foods as actually eaten.

Data Vintage & Updates

GetFoodFacts currently displays data from the USDA FoodData Central April 2026 release. USDA releases updated datasets periodically, typically 1–2 times per year for foundational data, with more frequent updates to the Branded Foods database. We download and process new releases within a few weeks of each USDA publication.

How We Process the Data

1. Download raw FoodData Central bulk export files from USDA
2. Parse and normalize nutrient data across all four food type schemas (each has a slightly different structure)
3. Normalize serving sizes to per-100g for consistent cross-food comparison
4. Generate FDA-format Nutrition Facts label data including Daily Value percentages
5. Build search indexes for food names, categories, and nutrients
6. Load into our search-optimized database

Nutrition Label Display

We render nutrition information using the familiar FDA Nutrition Facts label format. Daily Value percentages are based on the FDA's 2020 Daily Reference Values for a 2,000-calorie diet. Per-100g normalization enables consistent comparison across foods with different serving sizes.

How the Source Agency Collects Data

USDA FoodData Central uses multiple data collection methods depending on the food type. SR Legacy and Foundation Foods undergo rigorous laboratory analysis at USDA-contracted analytical chemistry labs, where food samples are chemically analyzed for dozens of nutrients including macronutrients, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. Branded Foods data is submitted directly by food manufacturers and reflects label-declared values from Nutrition Facts panels. Survey Foods (FNDDS) are constructed from recipe calculations based on reported dietary intake in national health surveys like NHANES.

Each data type carries different precision and verification levels. Laboratory-analyzed foods (SR Legacy, Foundation) have the highest accuracy, while branded food values depend on manufacturer testing practices. The USDA periodically re-analyzes foods when analytical methods improve or when there is reason to believe composition has changed due to agricultural practices or food processing changes.

Data Accuracy Commitment

GetFoodFacts presents USDA data without modification or interpolation. We do not estimate missing nutrient values or blend data across food types. When a nutrient is not measured for a particular food, we display it as unavailable rather than showing a zero or estimate. Our processing pipeline validates data integrity during each import cycle, checking for consistent units, valid ranges, and complete food identification fields. If you believe any information is displayed incorrectly, please contact us and we will verify against the source data.

Limitations

• Branded food data is manufacturer-submitted and not independently verified by USDA or GetFoodFacts
• Not all nutrients are measured for every food, many foods have partial nutrient profiles
• Nutrient values are averages and will vary with growing conditions, processing, and preparation
• Branded products may be reformulated by manufacturers without notice, so label data may lag actual composition
• This data is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional dietary advice